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Namibia still has to 'light up' on tobacco control 

NAMIBIA is not among a handful of African countries who ratified a global anti-smoking treaty in Geneva, Switzerland, last week - despite being a signatory to the agreement.

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the first global health treaty to be produced for several decades.

So far about 40 countries have ratified the treaty - enough to make it law in those countries.

South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique are the only southern African states which have become party to the pact. . .

Health Ministry officials could not be reached for comment on when Namibia will join the pact, but indications are that the country first needs to enact its own anti-tobacco legislation.

However, this is proving to be an arduous process.

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