Let the Tobacco Bill be Passed now and NO Negotiations .Lungu

By Daily News Reporter 

The Acton Institute for Policy Analysis Centre (AIPAC) strongly appeals to the Government of Zambia to withdraw the proposed Tobacco Control Bill 2025 in its current form and subject it to wider consultation and dialogue with stakeholders.  

The Bill, as drafted, introduces severe punitive measures including prison sentences of up to seven years for the mere act of selling cigarettes without “warning signs.” Such provisions are disproportionate, impractical, and risk undermining both the rights of citizens and the sustainability of the tobacco industry.  

AIPAC believes that legislation of this magnitude must be approached with caution, transparency, and inclusivity. Our Members of Parliament must remember that one of the key reasons Zambians are increasingly disillusioned with their representatives is the tendency to pass laws that threaten freedoms without adequate consultation with the people. Laws that affect livelihoods, industries, and personal freedoms should never be rushed or imposed without meaningful engagement.  

Meanwhile Francis LUNGU, Tobacco Control Communications Specialist, Tobacco Free Association of Zambia (TOFAZA) has stated that the call by AIPAC to withdraw the Tobacco Control Bill 2025 is not only misplaced- it risks placing profits above the lives and well-being of Zambians.

"Let us be clear: tobacco is not an ordinary commodity.," Mr Lungu said.

Mr Lungu added that it's a leading cause of preventable death globally, linked to diseases such as Cancer, Heart Disease, and Chronic Respiratory Diseases. 

Any legislation aimed at reducing its harm is not an attack on livelihoods - it is a necessary defense of human life.

AIPAC’s argument that the Bill is “punitive” ignores a fundamental truth: strong laws save lives. Warning labels, advertising restrictions, and enforcement measures are globally recognized tools under the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), to which Zambia is a signatory. 

"These are not foreign impositions - they are evidence-based protections. The suggestion that requiring health warnings or regulating sales “threatens freedoms” is misleading. There is no freedom in addiction. There is no freedom in premature death, Mr Lungu added.

Governments have a duty to protect citizens from harmful products -especially when the consequences are so devastating and well-documented.

Yes, the tobacco industry contributes to the economy. But at what cost? The healthcare burden of treating tobacco-related illnesses, lost productivity, and premature deaths far outweigh any short-term economic gains. 

A nation cannot build sustainable prosperity on a product that sickens its people.

The livelihoods argument, while important, should not be used to justify inaction. Instead, it should push policymakers toward supporting farmers and workers to transition to safer and more sustainable alternatives. 

He further noted that the calls for “more consultation” should also be viewed with caution. 

Continued delays only serve the interests of the tobacco industry while more citizens fall victim to preventable diseases.

The Tobacco Control Bill 2025 is not about punishment - it is about prevention. 

It is about ensuring that future generations are not trapped in cycles of addiction and illness.

In the end, the choice is simple: Zambia can protect profits, or it can protect its people. Public health must come first-because no economic argument can outweigh the value of a human life.

The same tobacco industry players cannot allow their own children and family members to consume tobacco products and yet they want to continue making profits by addicting other young people - this is grossly unfair.