Table 1 Zimbabwe’s 2015 tobacco control policies in relation to FCTC general obligations

Article 5: Develop and implement tobacco control measures; finance and coordinate the work nationally.

• One law, Statutory Instrument 264 of 2002, outlines smoke-free premises, no smoking signs, tobacco and children, product ingredients disclosures, promotion of tobacco products, and importing tobacco.

• The government rationale for joining the FCTC was: “[w]e cannot fight from outside and win [13].”-- Minister of Agriculture (2010)

• “We will grow [tobacco] for those who want to smoke it. You should listen to what your doctor says. But if you over smoke, don’t blame us [64].”-- President Robert Mugabe (April, 2015)

• The Minister of Agriculture-Joseph Made described an unusual unity between black and white farmers in order to save tobacco-Zimbabwe’s dominant cash crop. “There are no differences between us on this one,” he says. “Everyone is working together….[13]” (2010)

• Economic problems and corruption [42–44] slow tobacco control implementation and coordination.

Article 5.3: Protect tobacco control policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry.

• No laws protect tobacco control policies from tobacco industry interests.

• Media reports credit nepotism for government’s failure to act on Zimbabwe’s Savanna Tobacco Company smuggling charges. Savanna Tobacco is owned by Mugabe’s relative [75, 81].

• “There is need for all of us to be aware of the tobacco industry’s activities to undermine tobacco control efforts through advertising, promotion and sponsorship which lure you into believing that tobacco is good…We will not tolerate any interference from the tobacco industry as we go about our duty of forming and enforcing laws that are good for the health of our people [110].”-- Minister of Health Madzorera (2013)

• Zimbabwe government ministry accepted $527,000 from BAT to support small tobacco farmers [65].