Tobacco industry presence and practices in Mozambique: a 'chaotic' but worthy market.

Journal: Tobacco control

Volume: 33

Issue: 1

Year of Publication: 2023

Affiliated Institutions:  Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada. Center for Tobacco Control, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA. Mental Health Department, Ministry of Health, Maputo, Mozambique. School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada raphael.lencucha@mcgill.ca.

Abstract summary 

Mozambique has experienced a series of tobacco industry consolidations both in tobacco leaf buying and processing, and in cigarette manufacturing and marketing. The growth of the tobacco industry presence in Mozambique was followed by an increase in tobacco industry's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. This is the first paper to describe the history of tobacco industry activities in Mozambique, a party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).We reviewed industry documents and associated web-based information. Industry documents (1990-2021) were identified through University of California San Francisco's Truth Tobacco Industry Documents Library. We followed with a search of web-based sources pertaining to the tobacco industry in Mozambique. We complemented our analysis with select media sources to identify statements by government officials in relation to the tobacco industry. We mapped major tobacco industry players, industry partnerships and corresponding CSR activities.Tobacco production increased substantially in Mozambique in the 1990s when tobacco companies began targeting African countries. The increased attention to tobacco production, trade and sales in Mozambique was coupled with greater industry involvement in CSR activities. We identified 10 tobacco industry CSR programmes in Mozambique. Most of the CSR programmes focus on health including HIV/AIDS, social issues and environmental issues.Similar to other tobacco-growing countries, the industry facilitated an increase in tobacco production and continues efforts to increase the tobacco consumption market while engaging in CSR activities focused on social and environmental issues. As in other countries, CSR initiatives in Mozambique enhance industry's reputation. Importantly, these CSR programmes and partnerships breach national laws and the provisions of the FCTC. The continuation of these programmes suggests limited attention within government to protect public policy from industry interference in compliance with Article 5.3 of the FCTC.

Authors & Co-authors:  Nguenha Nicole N Bialous Stella S Matavel Joaquim J Lencucha Raphael R

Study Outcome 

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Citations : 
Authors :  4
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1136/tc-2022-057390
SSN : 1468-3318
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Humans
Other Terms
low/middle income country;public policy;tobacco industry;tobacco industry documents
Study Design
Study Approach
Country of Study
Mozambique
Publication Country
England