𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐎 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐁𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐂 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐈𝐆𝐆𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄
“The Tobacco Control Bill No. 40. of 2025 now awaits 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧t by Dr. Hakainde Sammy Hichilema
Seeking a tobacco free Zambia (Seek A Tobacco Free Zambia)
𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐎 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐁𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐂 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐈𝐆𝐆𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄
By Master Chimbala
Tobacco is a global epidemic and one of the greatest preventable threats to human life. Every year, 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟖 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐞 from tobacco-related diseases, while millions more suffer from 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞, 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞, 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 linked to tobacco use.
Some countries have chosen 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞. They are strengthening tobacco control laws, increasing taxes, introducing smoke-free environments, regulating emerging nicotine products, and setting ambitious targets to create tobacco-free generations.
As we commemorate World No Tobacco Day 2026 under the theme “𝐔𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐥 – 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧,” we are reminded that the tobacco and nicotine industry continues to reinvent itself, using attractive packaging, flavours, social media influence, and sophisticated marketing techniques to recruit a new generation of consumers.
For Zambia, this year’s commemoration comes at a historic moment. We extend our profound appreciation to the 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏–𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐟 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 for supporting the Tobacco Control Bill, demonstrating commitment to protecting public health. We equally commend the 𝟏𝟑𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 for courageously debating, supporting and passing this landmark legislation. Their actions have brought our nation to the threshold of a healthier future.
Special appreciation goes to 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐚 for shepherding the Tobacco Control Bill through the national governance process and providing leadership on a matter that affects the health and wellbeing of 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. The TC Bill now awaits 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭. As citizens, public health advocates, parents, youths and community leaders, we eagerly await this final action for the sake of our 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧, 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐬, who deserve protection from addiction, disease and preventable suffering. – Master ChimbalaMaster Chimbala Foundation
Zikomo Bally Hakainde Hichilema!
#MasterChimbala #TobaccoControl #ChimbalaFoundation
