“Re tlhola re bona bana ba rona ba goga dilo tse le reng di vape le di shisha tse, but thought it was harmless because it smelt nice.”
That was one of the striking revelations during today’s engagement between Anti Tobacco Network (ATN) and the Bobirwa District Council in Bobonong, where councillors openly shared their concerns about the growing use of new and emerging tobacco and nicotine products among young people.
The engagement revealed a worrying gap in public awareness, particularly among parents.
Some councillors admitted that they had seen their own children using vapes and “humbly bubbly” products, but had not fully understood the dangers associated with them. The pleasant smells and flavours had contributed to the perception that these products were harmless.
Others revealed that they did not even realise that some of the vaping products presented by ATN Programs Manager, Thabo Katlholo were tobacco-related products. For many, tobacco had always meant conventional cigarettes and snuff.
The discussion highlighted an urgent reality that, while the tobacco landscape is changing, public awareness must change with it.
Councillors acknowledged that tobacco use contributes to the burden of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and agreed that something must be done to protect communities, particularly young people.
Councillor Sam Bandawe echoed his colleagues’ concerns, stressing the importance of public education.
Speaking on behalf of the council, he expressed gratitude to ATN for the engagement and said councillors have a responsibility to take the information back to their communities and educate the public about the dangers associated with tobacco and new emerging nicotine products.
He further noted that tobacco and nicotine use can contribute to substance-use gateway among young people.
Interestingly, Banda also spoke from personal experience. As a smoker, he acknowledged that quitting is difficult, but said the presentation had challenged him to seriously consider quitting.
For ATN, the engagement was also a reminder that education must keep pace with an evolving tobacco industry.
Katlholo explained that although tobacco and nicotine use is becoming increasingly concerning, particularly among young people through new and emerging products, Botswana already has an important legal framework in place through the Tobacco Control Act, 2021.
He noted that the Act contains provisions aimed at protecting young people from tobacco industry tactics and reducing exposure to tobacco products.
However, he emphasised the legislation can only have its full impact when the regulations required to implement it are finally signed.
He therefore called for continued advocacy for the regulations under the Tobacco Control Act, 2021 to be finalised and signed without further delay.
