Malawi faces a stark dilemma: protect public health by curbing tobacco use or continue relying on it as “green gold,” the backbone of its economy. Tobacco generates 15% of the country’s GDP and more than half of its exports, yet it fuels rising addiction, especially among youth, and drives deadly health crises from TB to lung cancer. Civil society groups are urging the enforcement of WHO anti-smoking measures, but the government appears reluctant, even rebranding its regulator to encourage production. While experts call for diversification, such as mining, to replace tobacco revenues, the country remains deeply dependent on the crop. With the implementation of health measures stalled and Malawi’s continued reliance on tobacco, millions remain trapped in a cycle of addiction and illness with no end in sight.
The Telegraph
