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The Centre for Trade and Policy Development (CTPD) has urged the Zambian Parliament to raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco and nicotine products from 18 to 21 years and to amend Section 35 of the Tobacco Control Bill to require mandatory identification cards.
Natalie Kaunda, CTPD Head of Advocacy and Campaigns, made the recommendation in a memorandum to the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services on Wednesday, citing evidence that adolescents and young adults were particularly susceptible to nicotine addiction.
“When we set the age at 18, we leave a vulnerable population—those aged 18 to 20—exposed during a critical developmental window,” Kaunda said.
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She emphasized that age restrictions should be accompanied by robust enforcement mechanisms, which the current Bill provides.
CTPD also called for the removal of the 75 percent excise tax exemption for local manufacturers and urged the government to provide adequate resources for implementation and enforcement once the law is enacted.
Kaunda highlighted the economic and health impact of tobacco, noting that the industry costs Zambia an estimated K2.8 billion annually while contributing just 0.3 percent to GDP. She added that initiation of tobacco use began as early as 15.7 years and that 16 percent of Zambians used tobacco products.
The delegation to Parliament included CTPD staff members and youth network representatives, who emphasized that the Bill balances economic considerations with public health priorities and represented a generational opportunity to reduce tobacco-related harm.
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