adminthe toilet. We were immediately suspended from school and were told not to come back unless we brought our parents with us to the headmaster’s office.
I was so frightened. I did not tell my parents that I had been caught smoking at school, so I did not go to school for two weeks. Wondering what to do next, I decided to lie to the headmaster that both my parents were out of town and apologised profusely for my behaviour and promised not to smoke ever again.
I was forgiven. Since then, I am proud to say, I have kept my promise and I hate cigarettes.
Each time somebody says to me, “You won’t mind if I smoke?’ this is the answer I often give them, “Certainly not – if you don’t mind if I am sick!”
Why am I bringing this topic on cigarettes to the fore, you might ask?
At the age of 10 I learnt that there is no real justification for this kind of behaviour. Besides it gives one a stinking smell, bad breath, brown teeth and disease. Moreover, I am sick of going to music venues where my clothes come out smelling of cigarettes as if I had gone there to smoke.
Small venues such as Book Cafe, Mannenberg, Sports Diner, Red Fox, Club Amnesia, Keg and Maiden, Lime Bar, Pensao, Upper Lounge, City Sports Bar, Circus Nite Club, Holly’s Nite Club, Babylon Nite
Club, The Tube and the rest of joints where musical shows are held, should ban cigarette smoking.
Imagine a band on stage for four hours being exposed to non-stop smoke. This is what we call an occupational hazard. It is fine if the musicians themselves smoke and love the air that they breathe. Some musicians, no doubt influenced by Western films like the rest of our society, think that it is cool to smoke, but it is not.
I remember System Tazvida calling his band “Boys Dze Smoko”. I am not sure what substance they were referring to as “smoke” but whatever it was, that was seen as being cool. However, those musicians who do not smoke are being exposed to involuntary passive smoke during their performances as they have no choice but to put up with it. This practice ought to stop.
I know that advocating for a ban on smoking in small and congested venues can cause resentment among smokers. The reason for banning smoke around music venues is simple. People should not be
forced to be exposed to known carcinogenic substances for even the briefest periods of time, because even brief exposure can be annoying and irritating to many people.
There is no risk-free level of exposure to someone else’s drifting smoke. Non-smokers should not be forced to “run a gauntlet” of smokers gathered at music venues or other buildings which they are likely to frequent.
Involuntary smoking puts people at increased risk of death from lung cancer, heart disease and other illnesses.
A well-known musician, Tongai “Dhewa” Moyo recently died of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma cancer. Smoking is one of the causes of cancer. We are not sure whether Tongai got cancer from frequenting the smoke-filled crowded venues where he came in contact with passive smoke from his fans or not, but according to medical experts, that is a great possibility.
The rationale for smoke-free venues is based on the fact that smoking is optional and breathing is not. Therefore, smoking bans exist to protect breathing people from the effects of second-hand smoke which include an increased risk of, cancer, emphysema and other diseases.
Laws implementing bans on indoor smoking have been introduced by many countries in various forms over the years, with some legislators citing scientific evidence that shows tobacco smoking is harmful to the smokers themselves and to those inhaling second-hand smoke.
Bans on smoking at music venues, in bars and restaurants can substantially improve the air quality in such establishments. Research has also shown that improved air quality translates to decreased toxin exposure among people. For example, at a certain factory where smoking was banned, tests conducted six months after the ban showed improved (decreased) levels of nicotine in the urine of both smoking and non-smoking workers (as compared with measurements prior to the ban).
Cigarette butts discarded by smokers constitute the overwhelming majority of litter in many public places like parks, playgrounds and pavements.
Smoking bans have been shown to substantially reduce the litter and therefore the costs of cleaning up venues and outdoor areas as well as to improve the overall appearance and attractiveness of the area are reduced.
The banning of smoking may not go down well with farmers and politicians since Zimbabwe’s economy depends to a large extent on tobacco production, but I am sure the Minister of Environment, Francis Nhema, and Dr Henry Madzorera, Minister of Health, will agree with me that cutting down on cigarette smoking will bring about a reduction in the carbon footprint and helps to create an ecologically coherent environment which will lead to healthier people in this country.
I remember, in the early 1990s, talking about the dangers of cigarette smoking to the Frontline Kids. I am proud to say, although they are all adults now, none of them smokes.
I asked a few revellers at Book Cafe what they thought about making their venue smoke-free, and below are some of their responses:
Dr J. Hambahamba: “I don’t smoke and I will be glad if everybody stopped.”
Mr Mashitu: “I and I is a Rastaman, and as you know smoking the herb makes one wiser, that’s why Babylon don’t like it. I will protest against such a ban.”
Thomas Deve: “It’s annoying and irritating. I come here to enjoy music and not to be a passive smoker. I agree with the ban.”
Shirley Daniels: “I am addicted and would like the freedom to pull a ‘scaver’ anywhere, any place, anytime!”
Well, you know my opinion already. Need I say more?
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