The Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) has strongly backed the proposed Tobacco Control Bill.
In a statement, Wednesday, ZACA Executive Director Juba Sakala explained the Bill is not about banning tobacco production or disadvantaging farmers.
He emphasised it is a progressive, evidence-based, and life-saving measure to protect citizens from tobacco harms.
Sakala noted that Zambia’s youthful population requires deliberate policies to shield young people from preventable risks.
He warned that youths are increasingly exposed to drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, with serious health consequences.
Sakala observed that cases of cancer, heart disease, and chronic respiratory illnesses are rising across the country.
He pointed out that tobacco products remain widely accessible and affordable, often sold openly on the streets.
Sakala highlighted that the industry has long targeted young people as a replacement market, prioritising profit over public health.
He clarified that the Bill seeks to regulate, not prohibit, the sale and marketing of tobacco products.
Sakala underlined that it introduces measures aligned with global standards and World Health Organization recommendations.
He urged lawmakers to act responsibly, stressing that a healthy nation is a productive nation.
