03/03/2026
ZANAMACA URGES SWIFT ENACTMENT OF TO***CO CONTROL BILL
THE Zambia National Marketeers Credit Association (ZANAMACA) has called on the government to fast-track the enactment of the To***co Control Bill, citing rising cases of to***co-related illnesses among informal economy workers.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, ZANAMACA National Chairperson, Felix Mutale, said the proposed legislation is critical to safeguarding millions of traders, particularly women and youths from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and to***co-related diseases.
“Our members are the heartbeat of the Zambian economy, yet they operate in environments where they are constantly exposed to the dangers of second-hand smoke,” Mr. Mutale said.
He stressed that the health and lives of traders, their children and the millions of customers who frequent over 4,000 markets nationwide must take precedence over to***co industry profits.
“We are here to say that the lives of our traders, their children, and the millions of customers who visit our markets are more valuable than the profits of the to***co industry,” he said.
ZANAMACA revealed that it is collaborating with key government ministries including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, and the Ministry of Education, to raise awareness in markets across the country about the dangers of to***co use and the importance of establishing smoke-free zones.
The association expressed particular concern for pregnant women and infants who conduct business in semi-enclosed market spaces with poor ventilation, leaving them vulnerable to second-hand smoke exposure.
According to the association, to***co-related illnesses such as cancer and respiratory diseases are increasingly affecting informal sector workers, often resulting in the loss of breadwinners and pushing families deeper into poverty.
ZANAMACA has since appealed to civil society organisations and private sector stakeholders to support government efforts to enact the To***co Control Bill without further delay.
“We cannot wait any longer to save our people and protect our economy.
This bill must be enacted now for the citizens of today and the generations of tomorrow," he said.
The association’s call is being viewed as a significant step toward strengthening public health protections for Zambia’s informal economy workers, who continue to operate under challenging and often hazardous conditions.
