It is Time to make the difference!
Dear Mr. President and Members of Parliament
Enact The Tobacco Control Bill
Save Zambia from Tobacco
DATE: Wednesday, 18th July 2023.
Dear President Hakainde Hichilema,
Minister of Health,
Minister of Justice,
And Members of Parliament,
Thank you very much for taking the time to read through this statement.
My name is Master Chimbala, a Zambian citizen working among children, youths, families and communities. I am part of the several organizations and individuals advocating for the enactment of the Tobacco Control Bill, a legislative product of the World Health Organization – Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC). Zambia ratified the WHO-FCTC in May of 2008, committing to put into effect the aspirations of the same through the Tobacco Control Bill enactment and implementation.
In Zambia Tobacco kills over 7,000 people every year while accounting for over K2.8 billion Kwacha in annual loses. It is a notorious substance which requires legislative control especially to help protect consumers, mainly children and youths.
President Hakainde Hichilema, I am grateful for your commitment to the Zambian youths and children, for your desire to protect and save the environment, for your aspiration to enhance Zambian lives, and for your thrust at delivering social protection and development for all Zambians. We are inspired by all that in seeking your office to foster the enactment of the Tobacco Control Bill, and save Zambian lives.
Mr. President, we have pursued and achieved good interactions with some cabinet ministers and members of parliament seeking for their support towards the enactment of the bill. We are grateful for their courtesy and accommodation thus far.
Mr. President and All Our Members of Parliament, it has been 15 years since Zambia signed the World Health Organization Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) and still the Bill is STUCK.
The benefits of enacting the Tobacco Control Bill have been highly pronounced and embraced by key leaders and global experts in health, economics, environment, governance, faith, education, health-insurance, politics, agriculture, nutrition and more.
Tobacco injures strides towards the delivery of social Protection programmes and services. An ailing citizenry is less productive, unhealthy, suffering, and unfortunately encounter premature death. Zambia spends over 150 Million Kwacha in treating tobacco-related illnesses every year. All these are anti-social protection tendencies in our society. The burden on service providers like NHIMA, hospitals, families, other health insurance agencies, health personnel and the general society is heavy and painful.
Hon. Sylvia Masebo, Minister of Health, emergency factors of life cannot be postponed for tomorrow’s discussions because Tobacco is killing Zambians EVERYDAY, including today. Please, Hon. Minister, as the sponsor of the Tobacco Control Bill, look kindly at the lives of the Zambian people and effect the necessary steps to get the Bill to Parliament.
Hon. Mulambo Hamakuni Haimbe, Minister of Justice, I implore you, sir to discharge your diligent, compassionate, speedy and hearted hand of service to the Zambian people of this hour today and the future generations, by delivering your part towards the fruitful processing and subsequent enactment of the Tobacco Control Bill.
Fake and deceptive claims made by benefiting perpetrators have been clearly debunked on their claims of enhancing economic development, employment-creation, managed health-risks, and several more unjustified claims. Tobacco is deadly in all its forms. It does not offer sustainable jobs especially in the green economy as espoused by the HH Presidency, the UPND Government and the New Dawn Regime.
Please, consider further the next points on established facts about Tobacco, as you mobilize other people to stand with Zambia in building a soberer and more steadfast society.
Thank you!
Master Chimbala
Chief Executive Officer / Social Change Advocate
Master Chimbala SURGE
PHONE: 0974586339
EMAIL: surge@chimbala.com
Here are the facts:
1
TOBACCO KILLS OVER 7,000 ZAMBIANS EVERY YEAR
With no exception, Tobacco ravages the lives of its victims through endless series of financial, emotional, and psycho-social pains among the individuals, their families and communities. In the end, we lose them to death.
2
ZAMBIA LOSES OVER K2.8B ANNUALY DUE TO TOBACCO
Tobacco causes massive loses in various sectors totaling over Two Billion Eight Hundred Thousand Kwacha every year. This continues to cripple and retrogress economic strides in the current and the future dev. prospects.
3
300,000 MORE ZAMBIANS BECOMING SMOKERS BY 2025
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that Zambia would experience 300,000 new smokers by 2025. This represents hefty health costs, heavy economic loses, depleted production capacity and decreased quality of life.
4
ZAMBIA IS ONE OF THE MOST INTERFERED COUNTRIES
Zambia is currently ranked 72 out of 80 countries participating in the Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index, especially on Benefits to the tobacco industry, Conflict of interest and Preventive measures, plus legislation derailment.
5
TOBACCO CREATES MORE HARM THAN ANY CLAIMED GOOD TO THE ECONOMY
The tobacco industry siphons profits to international shareholders, injures economic growth and government budgets, leaving the Zambian people and the government to contend with the heavy health burden.
6
Green Tobacco Sickness
Green tobacco sickness occurs when nicotine is absorbed through the skin as farmers are handling the uncured tobacco-leaves with symptoms including heat exhaustion and pesticide poisoning. Protective clothing may reduce the risks, but with rains, dew, and perspiration our farmers remain at endangered.
7
second-hand smoke kills over 800 Zambians every year
No one is safe. Not the unborn child, the pregnant mother, the child waking to school, the community, Church service, or an assembly of community members, NO! Second hand smoke endangers EVERYONE because tobacco toxins are daily on surfaces and in the air.
8
TOBACCO AND CHILD LABOUR
Tobacco farming is labour-intensive. Children are often engaged in Tobacco farming which causes them to miss out on school, thus compromising their education and future. They are also likely to contract tobacco-related illnesses due to tobacco exposure during farming, harvesting and processing.
9
tobacco causes great harm on the environment
Tobacco harms the environment at every stage of production and consumption, from farming to disposal of the final product. Globally, the tobacco industry is responsible for 84 million tones of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, and massive tree-cutting.
10
Deadly affordability of tobacco in Zambia Lures even under-age consumers
Tobacco products are so affordable that young people acquire these products for their daily use. Unfortunately, this also includes tobacco consumption devices. The low prices also cause early initiation of young people into tobacco-use.
11
TOBACCO PRODUCTS ARE DANGEROUSLY accessible to children
Research carried out in Zambia shows that children have geographical and purchasing forms of access to Tobacco products. Some Tobacco selling-points are spread around schools, play grounds, communities, markets and streets.
12
TOBACCO PRODUCTS REMAIN DEALY WHILE MASKED IN many deceptive PACKAGES
Tobacco products are packaged in forms that make the products seem safer but still remain deadly. They are flavoured with enticing ingredients but still poisonous. Tobacco is massively advertised with CSR but still kills over 7,000 Zambians yearly.
The Message in Picture
Please, Save Zambia from Tobacco!