MPs Demand Ban on Smoking in Crowded Public Spaces
MPs are advocating for stricter tobacco control laws that would ban smoking in all high-traffic public areas, with Shamva South legislator Joseph Mapiki (ZANU PF) leading the charge through a motion tabled in the National Assembly last Thursday.
The proposed amendments target the Public Health (Control of Tobacco) Regulations, Statutory Instrument 264 of 2002.
Mapiki argued that the current framework is outdated and fails to protect citizens in open yet congested spaces such as bus termini, markets, and city centres.
While smoking is prohibited in enclosed public areas like buses, halls, and restaurants, these busy outdoor zones remain largely unregulated.
“Children and vulnerable populations are particularly at risk, as their developing bodies are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of tobacco smoke,” Mapiki said, stressing the urgency of expanding smoke-free zones.
He expressed concern over widespread disregard for existing laws, pointing out that smokers continue to light up in crowded public spaces with little accountability.
Weak enforcement, he said, has left non-smokers exposed to the dangers of passive smoking — an “invisible threat” affecting everyone nearby.
“It was noted that exposure to passive smoke, also known as second-hand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke, poses significant health risks to non-smokers.
“When non-smokers breathe in smoke exhaled by smokers or emanating from burning tobacco products, they inhale thousands of chemicals, many of which are toxic and cancer-causing,” Mapiki said.
He warned that passive smoking has been linked to life-threatening conditions including lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and chronic respiratory illnesses.
“In adults, passive smoking can cause respiratory problems, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and can also increase the risk of breast cancer in non-smoking women,” he added.
Referencing findings reported by NewsDay, Mapiki emphasized that without legislative reform and strict enforcement, public health will remain at risk.
He urged Parliament to designate town centres, bus termini, and busy markets as no-smoking zones, backed by firm penalties.
“Penalties should include fines, with escalating consequences for repeat offenders, potentially including temporary closure of business,” he said.
He also proposed arrests for persistent violators, arguing that the right to clean air must be protected for all citizens.
The motion is now under parliamentary review, with public health advocates backing the proposal to create safer, smoke-free environments across Zimbabwe.
