adminresistance across the globe with many countries yet to sign up to the guidelines, some having signed to embrace the intent of the rules but yet to ratify the convention so that it can be incorporated in national legislation.
Zimbabwean farmers are justifiably jittery over the recent move by Government to ratify the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control that seeks to control tobacco smoking since the crop is a major foreign currency earner that supports the livelihoods of about six million Zimbabweans.
The lobby is not the only one that poses a threat to Zimbabwe’s full exploitation of its resources since asbestos has also been in the eye of an anti-asbestos storm over health concerns as well.
Our farmers’ worry stems from their belief that the ratification of the FCTC by the Government would lead to a ban on the production of tobacco hence dealing a blow to their farming business.
The lobby to reduce tobacco smoking and even ban the use of tobacco in some instances has been growing over the years at a pace that has alarmed major producers of tobacco such as Zimbabwe.
There is no doubt the ultimate objective of the anti-tobacco lobbyists is to have tobacco smoking banned worldwide though an incremental approach is being employed whereby focus starts at the stage of reduction and discouraging consumers from buying tobacco products through a ban on advertising and having large warning signs that inform consumers on the dangers of tobacco smoking.
However, it will take a long time for a total ban on tobacco to be effected since some of the most powerful nations have not signed up to the guidelines due to the impact that such a move would have on their economies.
The United States is a non-party to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control as when the signed treaty was put up for ratification, President George W Bush did not send the FCTC to the United States Senate for consideration, thereby preventing the full participation of the US in the implementation of the Framework Convention.
There is no doubt, however, that tobacco is not good for one’s health.
The pro-tobacco lobby argues that tobacco is not the most dangerous product on the market due to its link to cancer, and that its benefits for especially developing world economies far outweigh the perceived health implications.
There has been a progressive increase in taxes levied on tobacco products as part of measures to discourage tobacco production and consumption.
As one of the leading foreign currency earners, it then follows that such taxes could then be used to build even health facilities and to improve the people’s living standards in many ways through the use of revenue derived from tobacco farming.
The World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control was adopted by the 56th World Health Assembly on May 21 2003 and came into force on February 27 2005 with 168 countries having signed and 20 non-parties to the treaty, those that had not signed and some that had signed but not ratified the treaty.
It is important for the Government and the tobacco industry to apprise the farmers on the global developments surrounding tobacco production and use so that they make informed choices.
In Zimbabwe many farmers have moved to tobacco farming, leaving cotton and maize production due to the allure of the high returns from tobacco that have changed people’s living standards for the better over the years.
It is against this background that these farmers oppose any policy that tends to restrict tobacco consumption due to the attendant ramifications of such a decision. The impact of a ban on production would be immediate while tobacco smoking effects are long term hence the shock to the industry of even contemplating such drastic action.
The FCTC provisions include a call for a limitation in the interactions between lawmakers and the tobacco industry, tax and other measures to reduce tobacco demand, an obligation to protect all people from exposure to tobacco smoke in indoor workplaces, public transport and indoor public places.
Large health warnings are required and deceptive labels outlawed, public awareness campaigns on the dangers of smoking should be undertaken and tobacco not be sold to minors and where national constitutions allow, tobacco advertising should be banned as part of the obligations of the parties to the treaty.
We believe our farmers need information regarding the future of tobacco farming in this country in the wake of sustained campaigns to reduce tobacco demand around the world.
And since tobacco is such a major foreign currency earner, the Government should step up to re-assure the farmers and also advise on the likely course of action as regards land use in future when the anti-smoking lobby is expected to have smothered demand to a level that would make global production of tobacco non-viable.
That day, however, is still a long way off.
Online Reporter