A local NGO, advocating for value addition and job creation, has expressed concern over reports of smuggling saying Zambia is losing import tax that could have helped in procurement for argument sake drugs.

BuyZed Campaign Founder Evans Ngoma says what is more worrying in this case of cigarettes is as a country has many tobacco farmers meaning the raw material is available and the nation can focus on supporting growth of value addition.

“Let’s value add the raw tobacco our local farmers are growing, create own cigarette brands and ours will be to help aggressively promote good and competitive local brands that have potential to compete even for regional and international markets,” he said.

Mr. Ngoma has observed the need to address the main drivers of smuggling.

“As stakeholders let’s study intently the cigarette value chain with peers in the region, eliminate what we see as high cost drivers, processes to make a competing brand on quality, pricing for easy market acceptance and collectively we drive out smuggling. Home grown solutions to the national cause,” he said.