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The Tobacco Control Consortium of Zambia (TCCZ) has described the presentation of the long-awaited Tobacco Control Bill to Parliament as a critical step for public health in the country.
The Bill’s introduction marked a significant milestone, coming eighteen years after Zambia ratified the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2008.
According to the TCCZ, tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable illness and death in Zambia, claiming over 7,000 lives annually and placing a heavy burden on families, communities, and the national healthcare system.
Speaking on behalf of the Consortium in a statement issued on Tuesday, Muloboka Albert Phiri emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive legislation to protect Zambians from tobacco-related harm.
“The absence of strong tobacco control laws has left Zambia vulnerable to rising health risks and ongoing interference from the tobacco industry,” Phiri said.
The TCCZ praised the government and its line ministries for taking the important step of introducing the Bill, which would allow the public to participate in discussions on this pressing health issue.
The Consortium urged Members of Parliament from all political parties to prioritize the health and well-being of Zambians by supporting the Bill’s passage.
Phiri called on civil society, health professionals, faith-based organizations, the media, and the general public to engage actively in the legislative process, stressing that strong public involvement is key to ensuring the Bill is passed without delay or dilution.
The TCCZ also issued a stern warning to the tobacco industry, affirming Zambia’s commitment to protecting public health policy from commercial interests, in line with Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC.
“We are closely monitoring all industry activities and will continue to expose actions that undermine public health. The time for action is now,” he added. “Zambia cannot afford further delay. This Bill is essential to safeguarding the health of present and future generations,” Phiri said.
Read more: Groups urge government to act on tobacco control amid rise of non-communicable diseases
Meanwhile, the Tobacco Board of Zambia (TBZ) says it has commenced preparations for a nationwide tobacco grower validation and verification exercise across all production regions.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday, TBZ Corporate Affairs and Communications Manager, Lee Haamunji, announced that the initiative will begin on February 4, 2026, and run for two weeks.
Haamunji said the programme is aimed at verifying registered growers, validating fields, and collecting production data ahead of the 2026 Tobacco Marketing Season.
“The exercise forms part of TBZ’s broader strategy to reinforce regulatory compliance and strengthen industry oversight,” Haamunji said.
He added that joint validation will be conducted with stakeholders at field level to enhance transparency and accuracy.
Haamunji further explained that all self-contracted growers will undergo full validation, while contracted growers will be assessed selectively based on risk profiling and regional dynamics.
“The process will involve physical inspection of fields, plant populations, and tobacco varieties, alongside the collection of crop performance data,” he said.
He stressed that sponsoring merchants, grower associations, and industry stakeholders are required to ensure their technical and field officers actively participate in the exercise.
Haamunji reiterated that the validation programme is expected to make a significant contribution to the growth and sustainability of the tobacco sector.
“The initiative will ultimately benefit farmers, stakeholders, and the national economy,” Haamunji affirmed.
He urged all participating parties to prioritise the validation process for the long-term success of the industry.
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