THE AFRICAN TOBACCO CONTROL ALLIANCE URGES COMESA REGION TO PROMOTE ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURE IF THE MANY LIVES ARE TO BE PRESERVED FROM THE EFFECTS OF TOBACCO

THE AFRICAN TOBACCO CONTROL ALLIANCE (ATCA) HAS CHALLENGED LEADERS IN THE COMMON MARKET FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA (COMESA) REGION TO PROMOTE ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURE IF THE MANY LIVES ARE TO BE PRESERVED FROM THE EFFECTS OF TOBACCO.

LAST YEAR THE CONFERENCE OF PARTIES (COP) TO THE GLOBAL TOBACCO TREATY UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED A RECOMMENDATION THAT COUNTRIES RESTRICT OR BAN THE USE OF FLAVOURING TOBACCO BUT PRODDED BY A TOBACCO INDUSTRY CAMPAIGN; COMESA OPPOSED THE BAN, DECLARING THAT IT WOULD HARM THE LIVELIHOOD OF TOBACCO FARMERS.

BUT A.T.C.A NOTES THAT TOBACCO FARMING IS IN ITS SUNSET YEARS AND THE CITIZENS OF COUNTRIES THAT ARE RELIANT ON TOBACCO PRODUCTION WOULD BE BETTER SERVED IF THEY FOCUSED ON ALTERNATIVE CROPS LIKE SUNFLOWER, GROUNDNUTS, SOYA BEANS AND CHILLI.

SPEAKING IN LUSAKA TODAY ATCA DELEGATION LEADER RACHEL KITONYO SAID COMESA LEADERS MUST SHOW POLITICAL WILL TO SUPPORT SUCH EFFORTS AS THIS WILL LEAD TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITIZENS AND A WAY OUT OF POVERTY FOR TOBACCO FARMERS IN THE REGION.

SHE ADDS THAT LEADERS IN THE COMESA REGION SHOULD ENGAGE IN EXHAUSTIVE CONSULTATION BEFORE TAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE DETRIMENTAL TO THE PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 

MS KITONYO IS LEADING A DELEGATION OF EIGHT PEOPLE FROM KENYA, TANZANIA, CONGO D.R., NIGERIA, TOGO, SENEGAL AND ZAMBIA WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN TOBACCO CONTROL ALLIANCE.

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION HAS ESTIMATED THAT IF UNCHECKED, THE TOBACCO EPIDEMIC WILL KILL 8 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR BY 2030, 80 PERCENT OF THEM IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD.

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