University of Zambia Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Enala Tembo-Mwase has called on students to participate in critical thinking on matters affecting the nation.
Speaking when she officiated at the Beyond Research Awards Ceremony for the FCTC essay competition in Lusaka at InterContinental Hotel on 1st December 2017. Professor Mwase noted that students are a great resource in the development process of Zambia.
She noted that the purpose of running the competition was to promote in-depth analysis of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), highlight its advantages and disadvantages, in order to engage in an open and honest dialogue on the matter.
Speaking earlier Beyond Research Director Lungowe Matakala said the WHO FCTC has a lot of implications for sectors such as agriculture, the economy, labour and health, all of which affect the nation.
Dr Matakala noted that the prevailing status quo where the WHO FCTC limits the production of tobacco yet the Seventh National Development Plan (SNDP) encourages the production of tobacco, has placed Zambia at a serious crossroad.
The WHO FCTC is an agreement that seeks to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke by enacting a set of universal standards stating the dangers of tobacco and limiting its use in all forms worldwide.
Zambia acceded to the WHO FCTC on 23 May 2008.
Milimo Hamoonga scooped the second runners up certificate with K2,500 as prize money; Rebecca Banda emerged runner up with a K5,000 cash prize while Sankananji Mubanga emerged overall winner walking away with a K10,000 cash prize.