The Ministry of Health and Social Services is looking to tighten regulation on hookah (commonly known as hubbly bubbly), e-cigarettes, vapes, and alcohol as part of a wider review of Namibia’s tobacco legislation.
In collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry is currently reviewing the Tobacco Products Control Act of 2010 to bring new and emerging nicotine products under stricter control and to strengthen the fight against alcohol abuse.
This development comes as part of efforts to reduce tobacco-related harm and align Namibia’s legal framework with international public health standards.
Namibia has adopted WHO’s six-point MPOWER strategy aimed at reducing tobacco consumption through monitoring use, protecting people from smoke exposure, helping users quit, warning about risks, enforcing bans on promotion, and raising taxes.
Minister of Health and Social Services Dr Esperance Luvindao acknowledged that while Namibia has made progress since the Act was passed in 2010, much more needs to be done, particularly in raising awareness among young people.
“There is still significant room to strengthen our tax policy to achieve greater health impact,” Luvindao said, stressing the need for more aggressive excise tax measures within the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) framework.
The Minister also called for sustained and systematic public education efforts, particularly in schools and tertiary institutions.
“The task ahead remains significant for a systematic, well-coordinated awareness campaign targeting different audiences,” she said.
Despite progress such as mandatory health warnings, annual education campaigns, and bans on tobacco advertising and sponsorship, the Ministry said enforcement and funding remain weak points.
The Tobacco Products Control Act provides for the creation of a Tobacco Control Fund to finance anti-tobacco initiatives, but this has yet to be implemented. “The case for operationalising the Tobacco Control Fund has become urgent now, if we are to ensure sustainable financing for tobacco control-related activities,” Luvindao added.
WHO, in a joint message with the Ministry, said Namibia must close existing policy gaps and strengthen enforcement.
“We must act decisively to protect health by closing the remaining policy gaps, strengthening enforcement, and investing in proven tools such as MPOWER and SAFER measures.”
The Ministry also raised concerns over the rising health burden linked to both tobacco and alcohol use, and called for stronger leadership across political, traditional, and religious spheres to help shift public behaviour.
“In spite of these gains and plans, the harmful use of tobacco and alcohol continues to burden our health system, and it is among the contributing factors to preventable illness and deaths,” Luvindao said.
