Mogoditshane-Thamaga District Council Chairperson, Molatedi Selala has raised alarm over the growing use of vapes and shisha, commonly known as “hubbly bubbly”, among young people attending festivals and parties hosted on farms in and around Gabane and Thamaga.
Selala made the remarks this morning during an engagement between the council and Anti Tobacco Network (ATN), which was sensitising councillors on tobacco control and the growing use of new and emerging nicotine products.
He singled out Gabane and Thamaga, where he said farm-based parties and festivals have mushroomed in recent years, attracting large numbers of young people.
Selala called on ATN to engage event promoters and explore partnerships aimed at tackling the use of tobacco and nicotine products at such events.
“Talk to them about how you can help each other, because kids are going to die from this,” he said.
The council chairperson said the presence and use of vapes has become increasingly noticeable at these farm-based events.
“There are usually a lot of vapes there. When you go there, you will see many kids using them freely,” he said.
According to Selala, vaping has increasingly become fashionable among young people, with some viewing it as “cool” while having limited awareness of the potential health risks associated with the products.
He urged ATN to engage event promoters and develop partnerships that could help protect young people from exposure to tobacco and nicotine products at festivals and other entertainment events.
YOUTH NICOTINE USE A GROWING PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN
Selala’s concerns come amid growing evidence of tobacco and nicotine use among young people in Botswana.
Findings from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey indicate that 11.1% of students aged 13 to 17 in Botswana currently use e-cigarettes, while 12% use a tobacco product.
The growing availability of new nicotine products has also raised concerns about how these products are presented and marketed to young people, with some products being designed and promoted in ways that can make them appear attractive or less harmful than traditional tobacco products.
Among adults, the 2024 STEPS Survey found that 22.2% of Batswana currently use tobacco.
The public health implications are significant. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) account for 46% of all deaths in Botswana, while tobacco use remains an important preventable risk factor contributing to disease and premature death.
SIGNING OF REGULATIONS KEY TO STRENGTHENING TOBACCO CONTROL
Against this backdrop, ATN is calling on local councils across Botswana to advocate for the signing and implementation of regulations that will give effect to the Tobacco Control Act of 2021.
Mogoditshane-Thamaga District Council is the tenth council that the network has engaged as part of its advocacy efforts.
During the engagement, ATN emphasised the importance of bringing the regulations into operation to strengthen tobacco-control measures and enhance protection of public health.
The regulations are expected to provide a stronger framework for implementing tobacco-control measures, including addressing the use of and exposure to tobacco and emerging nicotine products.
Once signed and implemented, the regulations could strengthen measures aimed at protecting the public, particularly children, from tobacco and nicotine-related harm.
