Former Lands and Natural Resources Minister Judith Kapijimpanga says President Hakainde Hichilema should reject the Tobacco Bill just as he withheld assent to the CCTV Bill.
She warned that the proposed legislation could trigger widespread job losses because of reduced demand for locally grown tobacco and the closure of factories that depend on steady production.
Kapijimpanga emphasised that illicit trade would likely flourish because of stricter regulations that push consumers towards cheaper, unregulated products.
She pointed to British American Tobacco South Africa, where a major company shut down after decades of operation because the illegal cigarette market captured most of the demand.
The former minister highlighted that the Heidelberg plant closure left thousands without work because legal manufacturers could no longer compete with untaxed counterfeit goods.
Kapijimpanga stressed that Zambia could face similar economic shocks because farmers, distributors, and retailers would lose their livelihoods if the Bill is enacted.
She maintained that the government must balance health concerns with economic realities because ignoring the economic side will deepen poverty.
Kapijimpanga observed that once legal production declines, black-market operators quickly fill the gap because enforcement against smuggling remains weak.
She insisted that Parliament should carefully reconsider the long-term consequences because the social cost of unemployment and illicit trade may outweigh the intended health benefits.
Kapijimpanga reminded lawmakers that the President had previously refused to endorse the CCTV Bill over privacy concerns because he wanted to protect citizens from harm.
She argued that the same caution should apply to the Tobacco Bill because of its potential to destabilise communities and increase illegal activity.
Kapijimpanga further cautioned that the Bill might impact farmers especially in Nkeyema and Kaoma in Western Province, and in the Tumbuka-speaking areas of Lumezi, Lundazi, Chasefu, Chama, and Mafinga because these regions rely heavily on tobacco cultivation for income and survival.