We are talking about the efforts of activists like Bontle Mbongwe who in spite of the obvious challenge of having to fight a multi-million Pula business has persevered, and even took the lead in founding an Anti-Tobacco network. Looking at the amount of work that Mbongwe and her colleagues have done, Botswana should be well-advanced in its tobacco laws. Sadly that is not the case. While Mbongwe's fight is not in vain - we recognise her sterling work - the response from government has not been encouraging. Why, we still have some of the most outrageous smoking behaviours just about everywhere, even under the noses of law enforcement officers. For example, it is not surprising to see a person walking through the Gaborone Main Mall puffing away and oblivious of the people around him or her. Perhaps out of resignation borne of the knowledge that law enforcement agencies would not be too eager to take action against perpetrators, individuals who understand the implications of smoking in public shy away from reporting such behaviour. Nor will they advise an adult who is smoking in the same vehicle as their little boy or girl to desist from the dangerous act. In many offices, managers still smoke freely, forcing their workers to inhale the toxicants from tobacco. They know their employees need work, and none dare report that they are smoking in the office. In any case the workers know that reporting will not help. At best, it will result in a small fine for the perpetrator while the whistleblower might lose his or her job. This happens because government has never made the fight against tobacco, especially bad smoking habits a priority. That is why we can still see little boys and girls coming from the shops with cigarettes they have been sent to buy by parents or adult relatives and associates. Some shop owners are in the act, gladly selling cigarettes to children. No, people are not afraid of breaking whatever law makes it illegal to send a minor to buy tobacco because such a law has never been enforced. If you challenge law enforcement agencies to provide statistics on people who have been arrested and charged for selling tobacco to minors or sending them to buy, chances are that there will be nothing. This can only mean one of several things: The nation has accepted the bad smoking habits of some people, or law enforcement agents do not understand anti-tobacco legislation. Alternatively, anti-tobacco laws are too weak to be a deterrent. We call on government to supplement Mbongwe's fight by committing resources for educating law enforcement officers and the public about existing anti-tobacco legislation, and indeed fighting tobacco.
Today's thought
"If we see you smoking we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action."
- Douglas Adams
