Table 2 Zimbabwe’s 2015 tobacco control policies in relation to FCTC measures to reduce demand for tobacco

Article 6: Price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco

• Tax is 45 % of the retail price of cigarettes. [111]

• Tobacco growers and leaf buyers are also taxed [22].

Article 8: Protection from exposure to tobacco smoke

• 3 smoke-free public places: health care institutions; non-University educational facilities; and public transport [68].

• Fine of Z$500, imprisonment or both for violators [112].

• No/scant enforcement for passive smoking laws-Ministry of Health [113].

Article 9: Regulation of the contents of tobacco products

• No regulations identified.

Article 10: Regulation of tobacco product disclosures

• Statutory Instrument 264, sec 7

• “Every tobacco product shall bear accurate information on the percentage of the tar and nicotine content and any other ingredients…visible on the package [61].”

Article 11: Packaging and labeling of tobacco products

• Brand descriptors (e.g.,“light,” “low tar”) allowed [9, 56].

• 20 % of cigarette package must be covered by health warning [9, 56, 63].

• Packaging must contain one of three health warnings [61].

• Inexpensive, single stick cigarette sales are lucrative marketing strategy in Africa [114, 115] aimed at low income, low education, and young smokers [114].

• Smuggled single stick packages create tobacco control challenges for surrounding countries [74]

• BAT-Z accused of selling cigarettes without Zimbabwe’s prescribed warnings [116].

Article 12: Education, communication, training and public awareness of tobacco control issues

• No mass education campaigns implemented between 2012-2014 [56, 68].

• World No Tobacco Day has been celebrated in Zimbabwe since 2013 [117, 118].

• Government officials minimize risk of tobacco use [34, 53].

• No whole population media anti-smoking messages [63, 111].

Article 13: Comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship

• No direct or indirect bans on tobacco advertising, promotion or sponsorship [56, 68], (except,visual entertainment) [9, 56].

• Promotional events are only allowed for adults [61].

• No bans on free cigarette distribution, promotional discounts, sponsored events, or corporate social responsibility activities [56].

• Savanna Tobacco Co. sponsored Miss Zimbabwe contest [70], Zimbabwe’s signature musician, Oliver Mtukudzi [71], local soccer teams [72, 73], and proposed $10 million donation for Harare stadium to be named after its Pacific brand [69].

• 63–77 % of youth exposed to tobacco advertising and 69–86 % exposed to brand names at sports events [82].

• Tobacco marketing in Zimbabwe--more aggressive than in high income countries [119].

Article 14: Demand reduction measures concerning tobacco dependence and cessation.

• Nicotine Replacement Therapy (sold with prescription) and/or some smoking cessation services available; costs not covered [68]. No national quitline [111].