The World Health Organisations observed World No Tobacco Day on 31 May. This is an annual day observed in campaigning against tobacco.This falls as a challenge as tobacco is Zimbabwe’s second most exported product after precious meta.
However the gold leaf has several health challenges that comes with its use and consumption. According to WHO, “Tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure are major causes of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and stroke, contributing to approximately 3 million deaths per year. But evidence reveals a serious lack of knowledge of the multiple health risks associated with tobacco.”
Tobacco kills over 7 million people each year according to WHO’s Global Report on Trends in Prevalence of Tobacco Smoking 2000-2025.
Zimbabwe, which witnessed the number of tobacco registered farmers growing by 199 percent in the 2017/18 cropping season earned $827,4 million from 166,6 million kilogrammes (kg) of tobacco last year.
The country has already grossed $398,4 million from 137,3 million kg of tobacco that have been delivered this year gaining more than $50 million on revenue as compared to the same period in 2017.
