The implications of the proposed Tobacco Control Bill (TCB) 2025 depend on whom you ask. While tobacco industry players argue that the bill will destroy the sector, others, including health experts, insist that such legislation is long overdue.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, the Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) said that the bill threatens the tobacco sector, warning it could lead to economic disruptions, job losses, and increased illicit trade.
ZAM President Ashu Sagar said the bill contradicts Zambia’s pro-business policies and called for a new regulatory impact assessment and structured engagement with the industry.
However, Professor Fastone Goma, a renowned expert in physiology and cardiovascular health, as well as Chairman of the Zambia Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance, argued that the legislation is primarily focused on safeguarding public health.
ZAM’s Sagar cautioned that Zambia risks losing its competitive edge as an investment destination to neighbouring countries that do not impose such “draconian laws” on the tobacco industry, making them more attractive to investors.
He warned that if enacted in its current form, the bill could lead to severe economic disruptions and a rise in illicit trade, potentially forcing the government to impose higher taxes on other industries to offset lost revenue.
He noted that Zambia’s tobacco sector is a critical pillar of the economy, generating over K500 million in taxes annually and supporting more than 500,000 jobs across the value chain, including farmers, traders, transporters, processors, retailers, and supporting industries.
Sagar also argued that the bill appears to prioritise commercial restrictions over core health concerns. While ZAM supports evidence-based regulations that promote public health, he said the proposed legislation overreaches by attempting to dictate the commercial operations of a legally recognised industry rather than focusing on health-driven interventions.
He stressed that effective tobacco control should centre on harm reduction strategies, consumer awareness, and access to alternative solutions rather than outright economic suppression. He also warned that Zambia risks losing its competitive edge as an investment destination if restrictive policies are implemented.
“Instead of adopting policies that fail to align with Zambia’s economic needs, regulations such as the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) should be domesticated,” he said.
Prof. Goma argued that the bill does not affect tobacco trade but focuses solely on public health. He criticises ZAM for repeatedly using the same arguments to oppose the bill in Parliament.
He urged ministers to resist industry pressure, praising Minister of Health Elijah Muchima for pushing for Zambia to align with international tobacco control commitments.
Goma dismissed concerns that the bill will cause job losses, noting that stronger regulations in Kenya, South Africa, and Botswana have not shut down tobacco companies.
He strongly opposed tobacco companies being part of the Tobacco Control Committee, stating they are “vectors of disease” and should engage through the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry instead.
He asserted that Zambia remains attractive to tobacco companies due to cheap farming costs, not weak regulations.
“As long as farmers continue supplying them with cheap tobacco, they will remain here to make money. These claims are nothing more than fear-mongering, and I believe such misinformation should be dealt with firmly,” he said.
A consortium of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has condemned ZAM for spreading misinformation about the bill. In a strongly worded statement, they accused ZAM of using deceptive tactics to create fear and panic over the bill in an effort to protect the tobacco industry’s profits at the expense of Zambian lives.
In a joint statement, 13 NGOs—including the Centre for Trade Policy and Development, the Tobacco Control Consortium of Zambia, the Tobacco Free Association of Zambia, and the Centre for Primary Care and Research—emphasised that public health must remain the government’s top priority.
“While we acknowledge the role of economic considerations in policy development, we firmly assert that the Tobacco Control Bill (TCB) 2025 is a long-overdue, evidence-based measure to safeguard public health. It also fulfills Zambia’s obligations under the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), which the country ratified in 2008,” the NGOs stated.
They highlighted that the well-documented health and economic burden of tobacco and nicotine use, which results in over 7,000 deaths annually in Zambia, far outweighs the tobacco industry’s short-term contributions to employment and government revenue.
Discover more from MAKANDAY
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
