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Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) on Wednesday endorsed government’s proposed Tobacco Control Bill, saying the legislation was vital to protecting public health and did not threaten the country’s tobacco sector.
ZACA Executive Director Juba Sakala said the Bill was not intended to ban tobacco production or undermine farmers but to introduce evidence-based measures to reduce the health risks associated with tobacco use.
“Zambia’s largely youthful population requires deliberate policies that shield young people from preventable health risks,” Sakala said in the statement.
Read more: Zambia moves closer to stronger tobacco control with bill presented to parliament
He warned that young people were increasingly exposed to drugs, alcohol and tobacco, a trend he said carried serious long-term health implications. Cases of cancer, heart disease and chronic respiratory illnesses were rising across Zambia, putting pressure on families and the national health system, he added.
Sakala said tobacco products remained easily accessible and affordable, with many sold openly on the streets, making it easier for minors to obtain them. He accused the tobacco industry of targeting young people as a replacement consumer base, prioritising profit over public health.
He argued that the proposed Bill would regulate — not prohibit — the sale, distribution and marketing of tobacco products, adding that the measures were in line with global standards set by the World Health Organization.
Sakala urged lawmakers to support the Bill, saying public health protection was essential to the country’s development. “A healthy nation is a productive nation,” he said.
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