CPCR Slams Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry Over Tobacco Bill Opposition

By Daily News Reporter 

The Centre for Primary Care Research (CPCR) has intensified calls for the swift enactment of Zambia’s long-debated Tobacco Control Bill, warning that continued resistance risks costing thousands of lives each year.

In a strongly worded statement to Daily News, CPCR Executive Director Professor Fastone Goma has expressed “grave concern” over the position taken by the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI), accusing the business lobby of deliberately misinterpreting the intent of the proposed law.

(CPCR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PROFESSOR FASTONE GOMA)

At the heart of the dispute is a familiar standoff between public health advocates and economic stakeholders.  Prof Goma argues that ZACCI’s objections are not new, recalling that similar resistance in 2018 contributed to the Bill failing to progress to Cabinet.

“Those arguments have already been heard, considered, and rejected,” Prof Goma said, adding that nearly two decades of consultations with stakeholders—including ZACCI—have left little room for further debate.

For over 18 years, Zambia has engaged in discussions around tobacco regulation, involving government, civil society, and private sector players. Prof Goma has stated that CPCR maintains that the Ministry of Health has provided sufficient platforms for input, making recent calls for more dialogue unnecessary.

Instead, the research body is urging policymakers to shift focus from debate to action.

According to Prof Goma has also stated that the consequences of delaying the Tobacco Control Bill are both human and economic.

Citing findings from a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA), the organisation paints a stark picture: maintaining the status quo could see Zambia lose over 7,000 lives each year due to tobacco-related illnesses. Beyond the human toll, the country is projected to spend millions in healthcare costs while losing billions in productivity linked to premature deaths, disability, and workplace smoking.

The RIA explored three possible scenarios—doing nothing, implementing limited interventions, and fully enacting the Bill in line with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

While partial measures such as public awareness campaigns could save lives, Prof Goma says the most impactful option is full implementation of the law.

Under this scenario, Zambia could save over 40,000 lives within 15 years and significantly reduce strain on the health system. Economic projections also point to billions of kwacha in savings through reduced healthcare expenditure and improved workforce productivity.

One of the key arguments raised by opponents of the Bill is that stricter tobacco regulations could scare away investors. However, CPCR has dismissed this claim as unfounded.

He has further noted that more than 40 African countries have already adopted similar tobacco control measures without experiencing investor flight and that Zambia is unlikely to be an exception, and that a healthier population would, in fact, strengthen economic growth.

Beyond statistics and projections, CPCR frames the issue as a fundamental choice between protecting public health and sustaining harmful consumption.

“Public health protection and the promotion of tobacco consumption are mutually exclusive,” Prof Goma added, emphasizing that compromise is not an option.

As the debate intensifies, He is also calling on lawmakers to stand firm against what it describes as industry interference and to prioritize the well-being of citizens.

Further Prof Goma has urged the Parliament to reject ZACCI’s submission and move decisively toward domesticating the global tobacco control framework, warning that any further delays will translate into preventable deaths.

For Zambia, the Tobacco Control Bill represents more than just legislation—it is a test of political will and a defining moment in the country’s commitment to safeguarding public health.