THE Tobacco Products Bill which has been tabled in the National Assembly does not make provision for special cubicles for smokers in public places such as restaurants.

In his response to the short debate on the Bill he introduced three weeks ago, Health Minister Richard Kamwi on Wednesday said his Ministry consulted with the World Health Organisation (WHO) after there had been "some lobbying" for a provision to allow smokers' cubicles in public places.

UN member states have to keep their national laws against smoking in line with the WHO's tobacco products control document, he said.

"Page Seven of this document says that neither ventilation nor filtration, alone or in combination, can reduce exposure levels of tobacco smoke from indoor spaces to acceptable levels.

"Exclusive cubicles for smokers in certain places should not be accommodated in the best interest of the Namibian people," Kamwi stated.