COP11 Missteps Put Zambia at Risk




Experts cautioned that poor representation at the WHO tobacco control conference could undermine international trust and public health progress.

By Francis Maingaila ♥️ 
Lusaka, Zambia24 — (19 November 2025) - Health advocates raised alarm over Zambia’s delegation to the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) in Geneva, saying poor representation had placed the country at risk of losing international credibility, global funding, and progress on national public health priorities.

The conference, which opened on 17 November to mark the FCTC’s 20th anniversary, drew senior government officials and global health leaders. 

Delegates reportedly stressed that gains in tobacco control remained fragile and that continued success depended on strong government commitment and vigilance against sophisticated tobacco industry interference.

The Tobacco Free Association of Zambia (TOFAZA) reportedly criticized the composition of the delegation, describing it as “misrepresenting Zambia’s health priorities.” 

The statement questioned why officials from sectors unrelated to health had been chosen to attend a high-level public health forum, stressing that the Ministry of Health was best placed to articulate the country’s interests in line with WHO guidance.

TOFAZA reportedly warned that sending officials without technical expertise or clear mandates amounted to a waste of public resources. 

“There is nothing to bring back home in terms of benefits, commitments, or progress for the Zambian people,” the statement read. 

It added that inadequate representation could undermine compliance with international obligations and threaten access to essential global health funding.

The organization reportedly appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema to scrutinize the selection of officials for international assignments. 

The statement read that weak representation “exposes the calibre of the nation before the international community” and diminishes Zambia’s credibility abroad.

TOFAZA reportedly urged the government to ensure that future delegations comprised competent, sector-appropriate officials with clear mandates, capable of advancing Zambia’s public health agenda while safeguarding the country’s reputation. 

The statement read that decisions made at COP11 had direct implications for the health, safety, and wellbeing of millions of Zambians, and failure to act could leave the country exposed on the global stage.

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