ZCSA and TBZ Seek Strategic Collaboration to Strengthen Regulatory Oversight
The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) and the Tobacco Board of Zambia (TBZ) have expressed a willingness to pursue a strategic collaboration aimed at enhancing regulatory oversight in the tobacco sector.
The partnership is intended to strengthen regulatory frameworks, promote compliance, and safeguard public health, consumer protection, and industry integrity in tobacco production, processing, and marketing.
Key areas of potential collaboration include information sharing to improve transparency through the exchange of data, reports, and regulatory insights; capacity building via joint training programmes to upskill technical staff and improve regulatory competencies; and policy alignment to identify national standards and other regulations in the tobacco industry that could be declared mandatory.
Speaking during a meeting in Lusaka on 12 August 2025, ZCSA Executive Director Gerald Chizinga emphasised the importance of government institutions working together to enhance product safety, competitiveness, consumer protection, and overall industry efficiency. He stressed that regulatory agencies should not operate in isolation.
TBZ Executive Director Robert Mwale, who paid a courtesy call on Mr Chizinga during the meeting, also advocated for closer collaboration between the two institutions to improve regulatory oversight. Both agencies indicated plans to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the future to formalise a more integrated and effective regulatory environment.
Others present at the meeting included ZCSA Board Secretary and Director – Legal and Compliance Tafuna Mumba Phiri, ZCSA Manager – Communications and Public Relations Brian Hatyoka, and TBZ Manager – Corporate Affairs and Communications Lee Haamunji.
