In a press statement released last week, ATN criticised the irresponsible conduct of, and fatal deception by British American Tobacco Botswana (BATB) stating that it was a subsidiary of the global UK-based tobacco giant British American Tobacco, which is actively engaged in a campaign created to undermine and compete with more effective youth smoking prevention campaigns sponsored by the Government and non-governmental organisations.
“In line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) global treaty, of which Botswana is a Party to, the ATN asserts that the industry be prohibited from involvement in any youth, public education, or other tobacco control initiative, and calls upon the Botswana Confederation of Commerce Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) and on its affiliates to reassess their partnership with the tobacco industry,” it stated. ATN also stated that the BATB youth outreach campaign specifically breached the provisions of the Control of Smoking Act and deceptively advertises cigarettes in violation of Botswana’s Anti-Tobacco Legislation through the planned distribution of more than 300,000 branded stickers, posters, t- shirts and caps during the two-month campaign.
