Public Health vs Tobacco Lobby
By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 — 12 December 2025 — Zambian Civil Society Organisations dismissed claims by the tobacco industry that the Tobacco Control Bill would increase smoking, urging Parliament to pass the legislation to protect young people and prevent nicotine addiction, following assertions by the Zambia Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) group that regulations such as flavour restrictions and health warnings would push people back to smoking.
Brenda Chitindi, Executive Director of the Tobacco Free Association of Zambia (TOFAZA), speaking through Jemimah Phiri, said Zambia’s smoking rate is only nine percent.
Civil society also dismissed comparisons by THR Zambia to countries like Sweden and the United Kingdom, noting that their success comes from decades of strong laws and enforcement, not from vaping or nicotine pouches.
The CSOs said Uganda is a more relevant example, having reduced smoking from 20 percent to six percent through strict FCTC-aligned measures without adding new nicotine products.
The Tobacco Control Bill aims to regulate nicotine products with flavour restrictions, health warnings, and limits on marketing and sales to minors.
The CSOs warn that flavoured products—especially sweet and fruity varieties—are driving a global rise in youth nicotine addiction and pose a risk to Zambia.
Advocates also rejected claims equating commercial nicotine products with medically approved Nicotine Replacement Therapy, saying vapes and nicotine pouches are unregulated and designed to keep users hooked.
Chitindi said the tobacco industry often exaggerates benefits, cherry-picks data and disguises commercial interests as science.
“Over 7,000 Zambians die every year from tobacco-related diseases. No US$30 million tobacco plant can replace those lives,” he said, describing economic arguments from the industry as misleading.
He also criticised the timing of the new tobacco plant’s launch in Kabwe, which occurred during the WHO-FCTC COP11 meeting in Geneva.
He said this distracted from Zambia’s duty to protect public health and uphold global commitments.
TOFAZA and other organisations condemned industry-linked groups for promoting “tobacco harm reduction” to delay the Bill. Jemimah Phiri said such arguments are misleading and driven by profit.
“Zambia’s smoking rate is only nine percent. Our focus should be on protecting young people, not adding vapes, nicotine pouches, and heated products,” she said.
He said the industry has delayed the Bill for almost two decades.
He noted that Zambia ranks among the top three African countries most affected by tobacco industry interference, with an index score above 80 percent.
Companies use tactics such as CSR activities to hide the harms of their products and influence decision-makers.
Civil society leaders said the upcoming parliamentary debate is a critical moment for Zambia.
The CSOs urged MPs to reject industry interference, pass the Bill without weakening it and ensure transparency in all interactions with tobacco companies.
Jemimah Phiri said the Bill is tailored to Zambia’s needs.
“It protects youth, strengthens regulation, and ensures Zambia upholds its FCTC obligations. Parliament must act to protect current and future generations,” she said.
Chitindi also criticised Zambia’s delegation to COP11 in Geneva, saying it included non-health officials and even an industry-linked representative.
She said this violated Article 5.3 of the FCTC, which requires protecting health policy from commercial interests.
She said future delegations must include qualified health professionals who understand Zambia’s public health priorities—not individuals who promote industry interests
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