Windhoek youth react to vaping ban and #LosDieChoef campaign

The City of Windhoek has introduced new restrictions prohibiting vaping in all public spaces where smoking is already banned. This change comes alongside efforts to add vaping regulations to the Tobacco Products Control Act, a move that supporters say will help protect young people from the dangers of vaping.

At the same time, critics question whether it will be effective.

For Nadia Araës, National Youth Delegate for the Commonwealth Youth Council and a key voice in the #LosDieChoef campaign, the legislative change is an important step.

“We want to eliminate the use of e-cigarettes in schools and among young children. This addition is a step towards achieving that. Children need to be protected, and young people need to understand the danger of these products as they threaten the livelihood of this nation and its productive citizens,” she says.

“A law that allows for monitoring and control will, in effect, reduce and hopefully eliminate the access that young children have to these toxins.”

However, not all young Namibians feel the same. Some argue that vaping shouldn’t be treated the same as smoking because it doesn’t produce tar or second-hand smoke. But Araës believes the risks are even greater.



Dangers

“Studies have shown that vaping is more dangerous than cigarettes. More than three times as dangerous,” she explains. “Treating them under the same law is, in my opinion, more lenient on the vaping industry. We need productive and effective young people in the future, and anything that threatens that should be eliminated.”

Pulmonologist Dr Adel Zurob agrees, warning that nicotine, whether from cigarettes or vapes, can be powerfully addictive. “Nicotine addiction can be harder to quit than heroin,” he says. “Teens often underestimate how quickly it can take hold.”

He adds that vaping can cause lung inflammation and lasting damage, and hospital cases are rising, especially when vape liquids are mixed with cannabis or unknown additives.

Araës emphasises that access is the root of the problem. “The more access we have, the more usage and the more danger. Taking away access will allow young minds to adapt and live without it. Many might already be addicted and not realise it, removing access gives us the chance to address the root issue.”



Understanding the issue

The #LosDieChoef campaign, she says, is not about shaming young people. “It brings together all stakeholders, from users to policymakers, to understand the issue. Education and awareness are key. The campaign embraces the idea of ‘nothing for us without us’ and puts young people at the centre of the discussion, allowing them to hold the microphone and make decisions that impact them positively.”

On an international level, Araës notes that Namibia’s actions align with many other Commonwealth countries, all of which follow the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. “Being part of these frameworks ensures our efforts are in line with global action on youth health,” she says.

Her message to young Namibians is clear: “You are at the centre of it all. We need to love ourselves enough to choose not to be part of what harms us. It’s all for our protection and the safety of future generations. We can take charge of our lives and make healthier, more positive decisions.”

While some see the ban as an overreach, others see it as a much-needed safeguard.

Yet both sides agree on one thing: the way young people in Windhoek view vaping and their access to it is about to change.