Kondwani Bell Munthali, Coordinator of the Smoke Free Malawi Project sent us this update. It includes news about a libel and defamation complaint against activist John Kapito by Nyasa manufacturing.
Wednesday January 20, 2009
Update of Malawi Tobacco Control efforts and Appeal for renewed support in legal and advocacy campaigns
Smoke Free Malawi, is the project of the Youth Alliance in Social and Economic Development (YASED) which has been established to campaign and highlight the effects of smoking in public health and lobby for the signing of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organisation.
There have been positive and negative developments in the sector and hereby wishes to report and ask for all relevant stakeholders’ urgent support to sustain and change the course of debate, at the same time defend a legal challenge posed by a Tobacco Manufacturing company:
Law Suit against Tobacco Control Activist
YASED
is filing a formal request with Malawi Human Rights Commission
demanding an inquiry into the effects of tobacco fumes in tobacco
growing areas, and as part of its media campaign the Chairman of the
Commission is Mr. John Kapito and he commented on the recent growing
advertising by a new cigarette manufacturing plant called Nyasa
Manufacturing Company.
Mr. Kapito has reported to have received court summons for defamation and libel by the company. YASED Smoke Free project is appealing for support for its legal team to join the matter as Friends of the Court and use the case to make a case to the public on dangers of smoking and the misleading advertisements on radios and newspapers by Nyasa Manufacturing Company. The law suit is intended to silence the growing network of Tobacco Control Advocates which Smoke Free Malawi has been building in the past six months. Please contact [email protected] or 0999957331 and 0881121005 on how you can assist in the advocacy and legal challenge. The estimated costs are USD$34,000 in legal fees and at least USD$20,000 for supporting publicity and advocacy materials during the course of trial.
Tobacco Company Handover school worth USD $130,000
Lilongwe: January 20, 2009 Malawi’s largest tobacco buyer, Alliance One today has donated new classroom blocks to the Ministry of Education worth USD$130,000 at Kalonga Primary School which includes an administration block. Alliance One Social Responsibility and Good Agriculture practice Manager Dr. James Munthali said his company cannot prevent fumes that emanate from its factories as that is the local Assembly responsibility. YASED as part of advocacy planted reporters to ask the company how it is supporting education at the same time not protecting many young Children who are breathing tainted air from its factories. This is the first accountability project that we have designed that we will ask questions in public to expose the dangers of tobacco fumes.
Malawi Government to sign FCTC to fight tougher tobacco control legislation
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Dr. Andrew Daudi on Tuesday 19, January 2009 told an annual Tobacco Conference in the resort district of Mangochi that it is considering signing the FCTC so as to join the conference of parties and fight new tough measures in tobacco control. Though this is victory for the renewed lobby from the Malawi Tobacco Control team, the Government position should send worrying signals as it is mainly in reaction to Canada’s new tobacco control policies which includes a ban on additives which includes Burley Tobacco. Malawi is the largest producer of burley tobacco with last year’s volumes reaching 122 million kilogrammes.
“We can join the FCTC by just signing and not ratifying. We can no longer continue to fight from outside because our voices are not being heard,” Dr. Daudi is quoted in local media saying that Malawi Government wants to be heard when decisions are being made to strengthen the FCTC.
YASED Smoke Free project sees the change as a new window of opportunity to increase our advocacy among the Stakeholders to ensure that Government signs the FCTC within the shortest period and we will push for ratification within the same period once it signs the FCTC.
YASED launches a stay healthy, tell a friend ribbon campaign
YASED has launched a stay healthy; tell a friend campaign which aims at raising awareness among young people in all its 200 outreach youth and community based clubs which is part of the 2010 World No Tobacco day commemorations. The campaign includes other non-communicable diseases such as Heart, Diabetes, Cancer and Blood Pressure by promoting health life styles among young people. The project is covering at least 450,000 young Malawians in YASED impact areas of Lilongwe, Dowa and Salima and a national hotline campaign where youth can get advice on healthy living. Support is being sought on the project to build four multipurpose youth centres dedicated to promoting health life styles among the young generation. Budget for each centre is around USD$45,000.00. Please contact Executive Director Mr. Andrew Mchikoma on [email protected] or 265999006239.
Research indicates Malawians will support Smoking advertising ban
The Centre for Agriculture Research and Development (CARD) has launched a report on Comprehensive advertising ban on cigarettes. Up to 80 percent of non smoking respondents support the ban, while 50 plus of smokers too support the ban. Media supports the ban and the majority of respondents do support the ban but they are not aware of the dangers smoking poses to them. The Research Fellow Dr. Donald Makoka said the research programme was an eye opener and the first of its kind in Malawi. The funding was provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the International Development and Research Centre (IDRC) under the African Tobacco Control Situational Analysis programme. Full research report can be obtained from Dr. Donald Makoka on [email protected]
There are many developments in terms of tobacco control in Malawi and most farmers have reduced the actual crop production after poor prices during last farming season. We need all types of support in harnessing the low moment for the sector and fight emerging challenges including Governments wish to stop at signing only.
Kondwani Bell Munthali
Coordinator-Smoke Free Malawi Project
www.tobaccofreemalawi.
+265 999 957 331 +265 995 505 020
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