By CHATULA KANGALI –
THE Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF) says it will not allow the exhibition of tobacco products at this year’s show which commences on Wednesday this week.
Recently, ZITF management said that it would discuss with the Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) on the possibility of allowing the exhibition of tobacco products at this year’s fair.
This follows concerns by the manufacturers on the continued rejection of tobacco exhibitions during the trade fair despite it contributing to the country’s economic growth.
ZITF general manager Alex Mayeya, however, said last week that it was against the ethics of marketing to advertise and market tobacco products due to their health effects.
“The international regulation does not allow the marketing and advertising of tobacco products, this also applies to exhibition, so ZITF will not allow any exhibition of such products during the show due to the adverse effect they cause to human health,” he said.
Mr Mayeya said that ZITF, however, acknowledged the role that tobacco played in economic development.
To date, 520 companies, 419 local and 109 foreign, have so far confirmed participation at this year’s trade fair which will run from June 29 of this month to July 5, under the theme “Enhanced Value Addition for Job Creation”.
The number of local exhibitors was expected to increase before the show commences.
