British American Tobacco has been accused of “utter hypocrisy” after lobbying against tobacco controls in Africa that exist in the UK. A letter from BAT’s Zambia subsidiary to government ministers, seen by the Guardian, urged that plans to ban tobacco advertising and sponsorship be abandoned or delayed.
The company sought changes to a draft bill, including smaller graphic health warnings on cigarette packs, removal of restrictions on flavoured tobacco, and lighter penalties for breaches. Master Chimbala, a Zambian anti-tobacco campaigner, said: “If I was a politician, I would say that they permit the protection of the British people and perpetuate the death of the Zambian people.” WHO estimates say more than 7,000 Zambians die each year from tobacco-related illnesses.
The letter was reportedly circulated among government departments and civil society. It appears amid broader concerns about industry interference in health policy; WHO officials recently warned the tobacco industry is intensifying efforts to weaken global control measures. Jorge Alday, director of tobacco industry watchdog STOP at Vital Strategies, said industry lobbying is widespread, pointing to delayed tax increases in Indonesia, stalled legislation in Zambia and influence at international meetings. He warned that if measures fail because of such lobbying, lives that might have been saved could be lost.
Zambia’s draft tobacco control bill would go further than UK law in some respects, covering e-cigarettes and requiring graphic warnings on 75% of packaging. In its letter, BAT suggested reducing that to 30% or 50% “within the WHO-FCTC recommended threshold” and delaying implementation for at least 12 months after the law passes. WHO recommends warnings cover at least 50% of the front of a pack; UK rules require 65% coverage of a packet’s front and back.
BAT asked for the removal of broad bans on flavoured tobacco, arguing that such measures would drive consumers to illegal products and proposing instead a narrower prohibition targeting specific dessert-, candy- and drink-flavour categories. All flavoured cigarettes have been banned in the UK since 2020.
The draft Zambian bill proposes penalties ranging from a percentage of annual turnover to up to 10 years’ imprisonment for various offences. Mukubesa Maliande, managing director of British American Tobacco (Zambia) plc, said the company is “committed to good corporate behaviour” and supports government objectives to reduce smoking, but warned some regulations can have “unwelcome and unexpected consequences.”
Chimbala said BAT’s suggested amendments would so weaken the legislation that it would fail to create long-term social change, calling the company’s stance “utter hypocrisy” given similar provisions in the UK. He added that tobacco control laws do not close the industry but protect people.
A BAT Zambia spokesperson said the company operates in compliance with local laws and participates in policymaking in line with frameworks for stakeholder input. They said BAT is “not opposed to regulation,” supports protecting underage people from tobacco and advocates “progressive regulation to achieve intended public health goals,” while noting concerns about rising illicit trade in Zambia.
Zambia’s department of trade, commerce and industry was approached for comment.
