Stronger tobacco oversight on cards

ZCSA and TBZ join forces to enhance compliance, protect consumers, and ensure sustainable industry growth

By Francis Maingaila

Lusaka, Zambia24 — August 13, 2025 — The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA), an enforcer of compulsory standards, and the Tobacco Board of Zambia (TBZ), a statutory body overseeing the tobacco industry, are moving to strengthen regulatory oversight in the country’s tobacco sector through a strategic collaboration on areas of shared interest.

According to Onishias Maamba, ZCSA’s Public Relations Officer, the partnership is designed to strengthen regulatory frameworks, enhance compliance, protect consumers, uphold public health, and ensure the integrity and competitiveness of the tobacco sector.

“The collaboration will focus on sharing critical information, implementing joint capacity-building programs, and harmonizing policies to identify and enforce mandatory standards in tobacco production, processing, and marketing,” Maamba explained.

Possible key areas of collaboration will include enhancing transparency through the exchange of data, reports, and regulatory insights. 

Maamba noted, “Information sharing will ensure both agencies are aligned and responsive to developments in the tobacco sector.”

The partnership will also focus on conducting joint training programmes to upskill technical staff and improve regulatory competencies. Additionally, both institutions will work together to identify national standards and other regulations in the tobacco industry for possible declaration as mandatory standards.

ZCSA Executive Director, Gerald Chizinga, emphasized the importance of government institutions working together to enhance product safety, competitiveness, consumer protection, and industry efficiency.

“Government institutions, especially regulatory agencies, should not work in isolation,” Chizinga said. 

He added that collaboration would help harmonize regulatory practices, reduce duplication of efforts, and ensure that both agencies operate more efficiently and effectively.

Chizinga was speaking in Lusaka on Tuesday (August 12, 2025) when TBZ Executive Director Robert Mwale paid a courtesy call, underscoring the urgent need for joint efforts to strengthen oversight in the tobacco industry.

Mr. Mwale called for collaboration between the two institutions to enhance regulatory oversight. 

He emphasized that joint efforts would strengthen compliance, ensure adherence to standards, promote sustainable growth of the tobacco industry, and protect public health.

The two agencies plan to formalize the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), creating a more integrated and effective regulatory environment that aligns with both ZCSA’s mandate to enforce compulsory standards and TBZ’s role in regulating and promoting the tobacco industry.

Other officials present during the discussions included ZCSA Board Secretary and Director – Legal and Compliance Tafuna Mumba Phiri, ZCSA Manager – Communications and Public Relations Brian Hatyoka, and TBZ Manager – Corporate Affairs and Communications Lee Haamunji.