Zambia’s Youth Call for Strong Laws to Protect Future Generations from Tobacco Harm

 By Daily News Reporter

Youth voices are rising in Zambia’s tobacco control movement, as advocates call for the swift enactment of comprehensive legislation to protect young people from addiction, disease, and aggressive industry influence.

At a public gathering attended by civil society organizations, public health advocates, and youth leaders, two 18-year-old campaigners delivered powerful statements urging lawmakers to prioritize public health over corporate interests.

Reading a statement authored by Brenda Chitindi, Executive Director of the Tobacco Free Association of Zambia (TOFAZA), youth advocate Jemimah Phiri rejected the framing of “alternative nicotine products” as solutions.

“Nicotine products, regardless of how they are packaged or marketed, continue to harm young people,” the statement emphasized. “Zambia must adopt laws that protect current and future generations from addiction and preventable diseases.”

And speaking at the same event, Kumbuso Phiri highlighted the disproportionate impact of tobacco use on young people and low-income communities.

“The absence of comprehensive tobacco control legislation leaves youths vulnerable to targeted advertising, easy access to tobacco products, and weak enforcement mechanisms,” he said, stressing the need for Zambia to align with global best practices under the UN World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC).

The advocates insisted that young people are not passive beneficiaries of policy decisions but active stakeholders demanding accountability.

“Our voices matter because we are the ones who will live with the consequences,” one youth speaker declared. “This law is about our right to health, dignity, and a future free from addiction.”

Ms. Chitindi and Albert Muloboka Phiri, Chairperson of the Tobacco Control Consortium of Zambia (TCCZ), urged Parliament to move swiftly in passing the Tobacco Control Bill 2025, ensuring it is comprehensive, evidence-based, and free from industry interference.

Mr. Phiri noted the double standards of tobacco companies such as British American Tobacco, which operate under strict regulations in countries like the United Kingdom but pursue aggressive marketing strategies in Zambia.

“In their home countries, strong legislation protects children,” he said. “Yet here, tobacco products are sold every 100 metres, even near schools. This double standard must end.”

As Zambia prepares to debate the Tobacco Control Bill 2025, youth advocates and civil society leaders are united in their demand: legislation that safeguards the health and future of Zambia’s young people, ensuring that public health takes precedence over profit.

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