Lawmakers want total ban on hubbly and vaping

A National Council committee has called for a complete ban on the importation of hubbly bubbly, vaping products and both disposable and refillable electronic cigarettes, citing growing concerns over substance use among learners and the increasing accessibility of nicotine products to young people.

The recommendation forms part of a broader set of proposals aimed at strengthening Namibia’s response to substance abuse, particularly in schools, where the committee says children are increasingly exposed to a rapidly changing substance-use environment.

Committee chairperson Joseph Sikongo, speaking in the National Council yesterday while motivating the report, questioned whether existing measures are adequate to protect children from emerging forms of substance use.

“We must therefore ask ourselves: Are our current measures sufficient to protect our children from a rapidly changing substance-use environment?” Sikongo said.

The committee wants government to go beyond existing controls and completely prohibit the importation of hubbly bubbly, vaping products and disposable and refillable electronic cigarettes.

The call comes amid concerns that products marketed as alternatives to conventional tobacco are becoming increasingly accessible, including to young people.

The products confiscated from learners further demonstrated the diversity of substances and devices available to young people. The availability of different vaping devices and tobacco-related products suggests that learners are being exposed to a changing market of products that are often attractive to young people because of their flavours, packaging, discreet designs and ease of concealment.

The committee said stronger controls are needed to close loopholes that allow nicotine and related products to enter and circulate in the country, while also strengthening enforcement of laws governing the sale and distribution of tobacco and nicotine products to minors.

Sikongo said the committee believes Namibia must “do more” to protect children from substance abuse.

“We must strengthen enforcement of laws regulating the sale and distribution of tobacco and nicotine products to minors. We must improve awareness among learners, parents and teachers,” he said.

The committee further recommended that schools receive appropriate counselling, prevention and early-intervention services to help learners affected by substance use.

It stressed that the problem cannot be addressed by schools or law enforcement alone, calling for closer cooperation between law enforcement agencies, health authorities, education authorities, parents and communities.

“Law enforcement, health authorities, education authorities, parents and communities must work together rather than addressing this problem in isolation,” Sikongo said.

The committee’s recommendations are aimed at strengthening Namibia’s national response to substance abuse, improving coordination among stakeholders and closing enforcement gaps.

Despite its call for tougher restrictions, the committee warned against relying solely on punishment to deal with substance abuse among learners.

Sikongo said discipline remains important, but prevention, education, counselling and rehabilitation must form part of the response.

“A learner who is experimenting with substances needs firm guidance, but also support to understand the consequences of their behaviour and to overcome dependency where it exists,” he said.

The committee also emphasised the need to ensure that schools remain safe environments conducive to learning.

Sikongo described the recommendations as a “call to action—not a call to blame”, warning that Namibia should act before substance use becomes even more widespread.

“Prevention is always better, and less costly, than dealing with the long-term consequences of addiction, poor academic performance, mental health challenges and other social problems associated with substance abuse,” he said. - [email protected]