Members of the National Council are calling for a complete ban on hubbly bubbly (also known as hookah), vapes and other similar products, citing rising usage among school children and health concerns.

The call was made during the presentation of an oversight report by Swapo Party MP Johannes Karondo, from the National Council Standing Committee on Health, Social Welfare and Labour Affairs. The report followed visits to the Hardap, Khomas, and Erongo regions in August 2024 to assess the impact of hubbly bubbly on communities, especially the youth.

According to Karondo, the consumption of hubbly and vapes among learners is alarmingly high and is affecting their physical well-being.

"The majority of learners smoke hubbly and vapes as it is considered a recreational and social activity," Karondo said. "Hubbly is mostly used at home before going to school as the instrument is big to carry around, while vapes are used during school hours as they are small and easy to conceal."

Karondo noted that physical activity among youth has dropped significantly and urged government action to address the issue.

"The committee recommends that as a matter of urgency, the government should review the Tobacco Product Control Act No. 1 of 2010 to include hubbly bubbly, electronic devices, vaping and other emerging tobacco products. We must classify nicotine-infused products as tobacco and regulate them accordingly," he said. "Where possible, we must ban their import, sale, hiring and use completely."

Fellow Swapo MP Richard Gaoseb backed the proposal, warning about the long-term health damage these products are causing.

"If you go to the hospital, you realize that the damage has already started in young people. A young person who is using this hubbly can barely run 50 meters because it has attacked the lungs and the body," Gaoseb said.

Augustinus Tebele also raised concern over the medical impact of these products.

"We established through reports from medical recruitment agencies that the lungs of young people using these products are already compromised. X-rays clearly show the damage," said Tebele.

Bethuel Tjaveondja added that Namibia should not be left behind while neighboring countries act.

"What I really want us to do is ban this whole thing," he said. "We are already struggling with so many other things as a nation. South Africa is moving forward, Botswana has already advanced. Why can we not do the same?"

MPs concluded by stressing the need to urgently engage with the Minister of Health and Social Services to push for legislative changes and enforce a ban on these products.