TOFAZA, ZADEMA petition Princess Kasune Zulu … over Tobacco Control Bill
Pand 8-1 Rainbow edition 146
By Hellen Bwalya
Public Health Advocates (PHA’s) led by Tobacco Free Association of Zambia (TOFAZA) Executive Director Brenda Chitindi and Zambian Developmental Media Alliance (ZADEMA) Executive President Derrick Sinjela are urging Zambia’s first female Minister of Justice (MoJ) Princess Kasune Zulu to expedite the passage of the Tobacco Control Bill (TCB), delayed for close to two decades (17 years), which Zambia ratified on Friday 23rd May 2008.
In a letter to the Justice Minister, Princess Kasune, copied to Health Minister, Dr. Elijah Muchima, Special Assistant to the President for Legal Affairs, State Counsel (SC), Christopher Mundia and Vice President, Reverend Witner Kapembwa Mutale-Nalumango, Public Health Advocates – Ms. Chitindi and her colleague, Comrade (Cde.) Sinjela highlighted the TCB’s importance in protecting and guaranteeing public health and mitigating the negative impacts of indiscriminate tobacco use.
Domesticating the United Nations World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (UN-WHO-FCTC), has faced significant delays since a Monday 23rd January 2023 Cabinet In – Principal approval to table the TCB.
This procrastination has seen rising youth smoking rates; according to latest Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) indicating an alarming increase in youth smoking rates in Zambia, this raising concerns about the future health and productivity of the nation.
Ms. Chitindi and Cde. Sinjela as die-hard Public Health Advocates expressed concern over Tobacco Industry’s (TI’s) attempts to weaken key provisions of the bill, particularly those related to partnerships and incentives.
Chitindi and Sinjela stressed the importance of shielding public health policies from tobacco industry interference.
“Tobacco use imposes a significant economic burden on Zambia, including high healthcare costs and lost productivity. The delay in passing the bill exacerbates these challenges. The fundamental right of Zambians to attain the highest standard of health, a right that is directly linked to the effective implementation of tobacco control measures cannot be over-emphasised,” noted Ms. Chitindi and Cde. Sinjela.
The advocates urged the Minister of Justice to prioritize the passage of the Tobacco Control Bill in its original form, ensuring that it effectively addresses public health concerns and protects citizens from the harms of tobacco use. They emphasized the potential benefits of the bill, including reduced tobacco-related deaths, lower healthcare costs, and increased economic prosperity.
Zambia ratified the UN-WHO FCTC in 2008 but has made ‘tortoise-like progress in implementing its provisions. The Tobacco Control Bill aims to address this gap and provide a comprehensive framework for tobacco control in Zambia.
