Place In Your Heart Foundation backs Tobacco Control Bill No. 40 of 2025
backs Tobacco Control Bill No. 40 of 2025
Press Statement Saturday February 28, 2026
The Place In Your Heart Foundation (PIYHF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing medical support and care to local journalists and media practitioners in need, urges journalists to support the Tobacco Control Bill No. 40 of 2025.
The Bill, formally introduced to the Zambian Parliament in February 2026, marks a significant milestone 18 years after Zambia ratified the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2008.
It aims to protect public health by regulating tobacco manufacturing, advertising and packaging while domesticating FCTC requirements to curb tobacco-related deaths.
As journalists, you are not immune to tobacco’s devastating effects. In fact, tobacco use affects journalists in the same or sometimes more pronounced ways as the general population, facing risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory illnesses.
Your profession’s nature can influence your interaction with tobacco making it crucial to prioritize your health and that of your colleagues.
We urge journalists to scrutinize tobacco industry claims and prioritize public health concerns. Regulating tobacco products will save lives, prevent nicotine addiction among Zambians especially the youth and reduce healthcare costs.
We encourage engagement with health experts, civil society and affected communities for balanced reporting. Your coverage can ensure the Bill’s passage prioritizes Zambians’ wellbeing.
Issued by:
Caesar Sindele
Founder, Place In Your Heart Foundation
+260 975412968
placeinyourheartfoundation@gmail.com
Zambian Citizens deserve truth, Prof. Goma prods journalists
By Derrick Sinjela and Luswepo Mutepuka
Centre for Primary Care Research (CPCR) Executive Director Professor Fastone Mathew Goma is urging journalists to tell Zambian citizens the truth on life threatening dangers associated with tobacco and nicotine products. 
Speaking during a Thursday 26th February 2026 meeting in Lusaka, Professor Goma says the people rely on the media practitioners to access credible information.
Prof. Goma says the Tobacco Industry has for two decades (20 years) ceaselessly derailed the passage of the Tobacco Control Bill since 2016, though 2026 is a sigh of relief.
“This year Members of Parliament (MPs) have an opportunity to domesticate the elusive United Nations World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (UN-WHO-FCTC) by passing the elusive Tobacco Control Bill No. 40 of 2025),” said an elated Professor Goma, noting that once passed at Manda Hill and assented to into law by Zambia’s 7th Republican President, Dr. Hakainde Sammy Hichilema, the battle will be implementation and enforcement of envisaged policy measures.
In a Saturday, 28th February, 2026 Press Statement, Caesar Sindele, founding Executive Director of Place In Your Heart Foundation (PIYHF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing medical support and care to local journalists and media practitioners in need, implored journalists to support the TCB No. 40.of 2025.
Mr. Sindele is delighted that CPCR, Zambia Network Against Tobacco (ZAMNAT) and Tobacco Control Consortium in Zambia continue coalescing health experts, civil society, affected communities and policy makers, a deliberate step toward balanced reporting.
“We urge journalists to scrutinize tobacco industry claims and prioritize public health concerns. Regulating tobacco products will save lives, prevent nicotine addiction among children and young people and reduce healthcare costs. Journalists and media workers are not immune to tobacco’s devastating effects; cancer, cardiovascular, and chronic respiratory diseases,” advised Sindele.
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