Zambian lives matter – Prof. Fastone Mathew Goma

Tuesday, 24th March, 2026 Press Statement

The Centre for Primary Care Research (CPCR) expresses grave concern over the recent statement issued by the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) on the Tobacco Control Bill (TCB).
From the very beginning, ZACCI has deliberately chosen to misunderstand the intent and the spirit of this legislation.
In 2018, their opposition was instrumental in preventing the TCB from reaching Cabinet, and today they repeat the same arguments, arguments that have already been heard, considered, and rejected.

It must be emphasized that ZACCI has been engaged by the Ministry of Health (MoH) at several points, including during the internal legislative process where their views were heard and considered.
After 18 years of repeated consultations, nothing new can possibly emerge from further engagements.

Their continued calls for dialogue are therefore misplaced and must be ignored.
The facts are clear: the Tobacco Control Bill is a health bill, purposed to protect millions of individuals from the diseases and death caused by tobacco.

For the economic considerations, the Tobacco Control Bill was subjected to a rigorous Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA).
The RIA was competently conducted and demonstrated beyond doubt that enacting the Bill will bring immense benefits to the nation.
3 scenarios were considered in the econometric calculations:
1. If the status quo was maintained,
2. If the law enhanced just 1 major intervention – RIA Option 2: Public health awareness and education campaign
3. If the Bill was enacted into law:
Option 1 – If nothing was done, the status quo was maintained, Zambia would continue to lose
• 7,142 lives per year and an equivalent of 16,427 healthy years of life annually
• K154 million in health care expenditure per year
• K2.7 billion in lost productivity due to premature mortality, disability, and workplace smoking per year
Option 2: If only 1 intervention was legislated – we see some benefits – saving 17,000 lives over 15 years but at a higher cost.
Option 3 was said to be the best option: If an FCTC compliant law was passed, it would save 40,349 lives over 15 years, consistently preventing the loss of approximately 2,690 Zambian lives every year. It would also yield K24,560 million in annual savings, protecting families, strengthening the workforce, and reducing the burden on our health system. The conclusion was unequivocal: domestication of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the most effective option available to the government.
•” If Zambia fully implements and enforces all six interventions together, the country can save ZMW 12.4 billion over 15 years.
Averted productivity losses would total about ZMW 11.8 billion, spurring economic growth and development. • Implementation and enforcement of the six tobacco control measures will help avert ZMW 685 million in healthcare expenditures over 15 years.
Of this, ZMW 329 million will be saved in Government healthcare expenditure, and ZMW 188 million will be saved in out-of pocket healthcare costs. • If all six tobacco control interventions are implemented and enforced, the Government will be responsible for saving 40,349 lives over 15 years”. Zambia Investment Case for Tobacco Control.
We categorically reject the false narrative being advanced by the tobacco industry and its allies that enacting this Bill would “scare investors.” This claim is not supported by evidence. In fact, more than 40 African countries have already domesticated this law, and none has experienced the investor flight that the industry purports. Zambia will not be the exception.
ZACCI’s current submission is not a genuine contribution to policy, it is a deliberate notorious attempt to mislead the public and derail life-saving legislation.
Public health protection and the promotion of tobacco consumption are mutually exclusive. There can be no balance, no compromise, and no calibration between the two. One is for health promotion and the other for promotion of disease and death.
We therefore urge policymakers to reject ZACCI’s submission with the seriousness it deserves. Parliament must stand firm against industry interference and uphold its constitutional duty to safeguard the health and future of our citizens.
It is high time the Government of the Republic of Zambia domesticated the FCTC, a proven tool for protecting current and future generations from the harms of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke. Any further delay will mean continued loss of thousands of Zambian lives.

Professor Fastone Mathew Goma 
Executive Director,
Centre for Primary Care Research

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