Tobacco.org

• State prepares guidelines to back smoking ban 

THE Government will soon issue guidelines to give fresh impetus to a statutory instrument that bans smoking in public places.

Local Government and Housing Minister Sylvia Masebo said in Lusaka yesterday that the public places as referred to in statutory instrument (SI) 39 of 2008 are premises, buildings, conveyances and other places to which the public has access.

Launching a youth smoking prevention campaign by British American Tobacco (BAT), Ms Masebo said the ministry would soon issue regulations to guide the public on the prohibition of smoking in public places.

She appealed to service providers running bars, nightclubs, restaurants and other patronised places to ensure that they accommodated smoking patrons in designated areas by way of demarcation. Ms Masebo said the youth should be prevented from accessing tobacco.

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BAT seeks clarity on smoking ban 

THE British American Tobacco Company (BAT) has not assessed the impact of Government’s ban on smoking in public places on its sales because it was still seeking clarification on the definition of the term “public places”.

Managing director, Lovemore Manatsa, said the BAT management has engaged in dialogue with the ministry of Local Government and Housing to get clarification on Statutory Instrument (SI) number 39 of 2008.

Replying to a Press query, Mr Manatsa said so far two meetings have been held with the main objective of respecting the choices of both smokers and non-smokers.

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• Smuggling costs BAT K300m 

BRITISH American Tobacco has lost K300 million in illicit inflows of sweet menthol cigarettes in Northern Province.

BAT managing director, Lovemore Manatsa said there was an illegal inflow of 110 cases monthly of the sweet menthol cigarettes in the province.

He said this translated into K300 million in the revenue losses to BAT, Government and other legitimate players in the market.

He disclosed this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday. Mr Manatsa said the illicit inflows also made it difficult for the legitimate players to gauge the true size of the cigarette market in Zambia.

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Zambia bans smoking in public places 

The Zambian government has banned smoking in public places with immediate effect, and offenders will face maximum jail term of two years or maximum fine of K400,000 (US$121), Local Government and Housing Minister Sylvia Masebo said.

Masebo said a statutory instrument prohibiting smoking in public places, such as any building, premises, conveyance, churches, hospitals, buses and other public places, came into effect Wednesday.

"I have been compelled to issue the statutory instruction due to the continued smoking in public places by persons that have no regard for the comfort of others," Masebo said.

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EDITORIAL: OPINION 

THE move by the Government to ban smoking in public places and make it an offence punishable by a fine of K400,000 or imprisonment of up to two years is undoubtedly a milestone development in this country.

The ban on smoking in public places, which is with immediate effect, is very much in keeping with standards in other parts of the world where authorities have clamped down on the practice. . . .

On the other hand, although the authorities certainly deserve a pat on the back for this most bold of moves which significantly was taken on the eve of World Tobacco Day, the ban will not in itself be an end.

The authorities must ensure that appropriate mechanisms are put in place for the enforcement of the new measure. As things stand now, there are statutes relating to public nuisances such as urinating or spitting.

It is, therefore, incumbent upon the authorities, non-governmental organisations which champion health, concerned stakeholders and the public at large to give this new measure the support it deserves.

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Delays to ascend to WHO tobacco controls worry ZACA 

THE Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) has expressed worry at the delays by the ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs to ascend to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

ZACA executive secretary, Muyunda Ililonga said his association was worried at the delays by the two ministries to ascent to the FCTC because its investigations had indicated that the Zambian Cabinet approved the recommendation by the Ministry of Health for the country to become a party to the FCTC in December 2007.

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BAT records 5.6% growth 

BRITISH American Tobacco (BAT Zambia) PLC has recorded a 5.6 per cent growth in sales volume for the year ended.

Finance director and company secretary, Benedict Mwila said the company’s improvement resulted in posting a sales volume of 851 million cigarette sticks.

He attributed the growth to optimising coverage to untapped areas in addition to the country-wide coverage the company has.

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Tobacco farms under receivership 

A NUMBER of tobacco farms have been placed under receivership in Zambia because of diminishing returns in the industry arising from increased production costs and effects of climate, Tobacco Association of Zambia (TAZ) president, Albert Van Wyk, has said.

Mr Van Wyk said the industry was hoping for a substantial increase in the global price of the crop in order to help boost the industry.

He said the erratic power supply and flooding has led to a huge increase in production costs in the sector this season and induced reductions in crop yields.

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Zambia Tobacco told not to sell-up 

The Tobacco Association of Zambia will not be allowed to proceed with the sale of its assets until an agricultural task force is appointed to review the sale.

The Lusaka government has strongly reminded the association that their assets and facilities are intended to help small-scale farmers.

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Improved tobacco production 

Agriculture Minister Ben Kapita has called for improved tobacco production because the cash crop is contributing immensely to the economic growth.

Mr. Kapita said Government will therefore fully support activities meant to promote the growth of the tobacco industry.

The minister said this in Choma, Thursday in a speech read by acting District Commissioner Mungoni Simulilika at the 16th graduation ceremony at Popota Tobacco Training College.

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Times of Zambia 

TOBACCO production has been projected to increase to approximately 50 million from 35 million kilogrammes per annum. Tobacco Association of Zambia (TBA) executive director, Jewette Masinja, said the Tobacco industry was also expected to increase earnings to over US$65 million per annum in exports as a result of the new Chinese market that had opened up. Speaking in an interview, Dr Masinja said the new Chinese market was important to the industry because it would act as a catalyst to drive local production to higher levels than the current 35 million kilogrammes annually.

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• Malawi presses tobacco fight 

But the country, while still pursing the diversification agenda, has not given up the fight to rescue a crop that is very much the backbone of the country’s economy as oil is to the Middle East. This time, however, Malawi does not want to continue with the battle alone. Economic Report has established that Malawi has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with tobacco producing countries of Zambia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to help position the industry so that the countries reap more. Industry, Trade and Private Sector Minister Ken Lipenga said in an interview that the MOU was signed last November. Among other things, he said, the agreement looks at issues of collective marketing as well as value-adding.

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Cotton and Tobacco to suffer 

Agriculture Minister, Ben Kapita says Cotton and Tobacco in Eastern Province are likely to suffer.

This is because there has been a reduction of farmers who have cultivated the crop.

Mr. Kapita said the development has arisen because farmers and ginners could not agree on the sale price of the crop this farming season.

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Zambia rakes in 22 million dollars from tobacco sale 

About 22.5 million U.S. dollars was raised from the sale of 11,571 tons of tobacco on the Lusaka floors between March and September 7, Times of Zambia reported Friday.

According to sale records from the Tobacco Association of Zambia, six companies sold their tobacco at the Lusaka floors at an average price of 1.95 per kg.

The companies includes TAZ, Zambia Leaf Tobacco(ZLT), Tombwe, Alliance 1, Association Central and T L Brokers.

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Zambia to see tobacco production hike in 2006 

The Tobacco Association of Zambia ( TAZ) has predicted that this year's tobacco production will go up to top 15,000 tons thanks to more growers and improved planting methods, local media reported Friday.

TAZ director Jewette Masinja was quoted by Zambia Daily Mail as saying that tobacco sales in Zambia have seen a significant increment in the last few years from 3,000 tons in 1999 to 13,000 tons last year and the momentum is well maintained.

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