Smoking in Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, the current prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults aged 15 years and older was reported to be 8.1% in 2024, with a higher prevalence observed among males with 17%, compared to females with 0.6%. This represents a decline from previous years. In 2020, current smoking prevalence was 9.1% overall, 18.8% among males and 0.8% among females. The number of current adult smokers was estimated to be 778,000 in 2024. This reflects a slight increase from an estimated 753,836 current smokers in 2020 and a significant drop from 1,130,394 current smokers in 2019. The adult daily smoking prevalence in 2017 was reported to be 11.8%, with a prevalence of 22.9% among males and 1.2% among females. Smoking-related mortality also presents a critical public health concern, with 6.42% of all male deaths and 2.28% of all female deaths attributed to smoking in 2021, totaling 8,696 deaths. These figures highlight the ongoing public challenges caused by tobacco smoking in Zimbabwe. The situation requires concerted efforts to reduce the prevalence of tobacco smoking and its associated health impacts.
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December 14, 2020 by sundaymail.co.zw
Burning issues around tobacco value addition
ZIMBABWE might be well on its way to reclaim its status as one of the top producers of tobacco in the world in the 2020/2021 cropping season. “Government is therefore, taking advantage of this quick-win by engaging relevant and potential investors for tobacco cigarettes manufacturing so as to enhance value benefits to the country,” said Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube in the 2021 Budget.
November 09, 2020 by sundaymail.co.zw
Tobacco harm reduction a viable solution
The report, “Burning Issues: Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2020”, claims that the death toll from smoking-related diseases can be markedly reduced by adopting alternative products [...] that present substantial harm reduction.
It is believed that tobacco harm reduction (THR) products provide a feasible solution for people who want to switch from smoking to alternative products that can satisfy their nicotine craving for less the risk.
For countries such as Zimbabwe, it could provide a lifeline for the tobacco sector while at the same time helping to markedly reduce the health risks associated with consumption.
July 31, 2018 by herald.co.zw
Destroy tobacco stubs, growers urged
Tobacco farmers who leave stubs in their fields after harvesting risk possible arrest and a lengthy jail term for their negligence.
Speaking to farmers at Binge Secondary School in Mhangura during The Doma Zonal Agricultural Show, Zimbabwe Progressive Tobacco Farmers Association national president Mr Mutandwa Mutasa said farmers were supposed to completely destroy tobacco stubs in their fields.