Health Minister says Tobacco production and consumption will be guided by the existing laws in the country.
Speaking at a Media briefing, Dr Chitalu Chilufya stated that Zambia is a democratic country and is legalistic in the way its affairs are managed, hence Government will not act differently from the laws that have been set up.
Dr Chilufya said Smoking is harmful to health whether there is Coronavirus outbreak or not, and that as people talk about the benefits of tobacco in commerce and trade, it is agreed that there should be a screaming statement which states that tobacco may harm one’s health.
“As we talk about the use of tobacco, as we talk about the benefits of tobacco in commerce and trade, it is agreed that there should be a screaming statement which states that tobacco may harm your health,” Dr Chilufya said.
“We are a democratic country and are legalistic in the way we manage our affairs, therefore there are policies in Zambia that guide the production of tobacco and consumption of tobacco and we are not going to act different from what we have set up in our laws.”
He explained that 95 per cent of respiratory cancers are associated with smoking adding that if there will be any evidence that is adduced as COVID-19 epidemic evolves, the action shall be taken appropriately.
Dr Chilufya was responding to calls by Tobacco Free Association of Zambia (TOFAZA) for government to ban the sale, manufacture and growing of tobacco in the country because consumers and those handling it are more prone to severe respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 such as difficulty in breathing than non-consumers.