Doctors slam Zimbabwe govt

Published: 6 hours ago

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has accused the government of failing to honour its commitment to strengthen cancer care, saying no cancer treatment equipment has been procured two years after the introduction of the Sugar Tax - despite collecting tens of millions of dollars meant for public health improvements.

In a statement, ZADHR criticised the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development for its slow disbursement of the funds, warning that the delay undermines the primary purpose of the levy, which was designed to bolster the country's healthcare capacity - particularly for non-communicable diseases such as cancer.

"Despite confirmation by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development that by November 2024, a total of USD 30.8 million in special surtax on sugar content in beverages had been collected, no disbursement has been made to the Ministry of Health and Child Care for the procurement of cancer treatment machines," the association said.

ZADHR further noted that additional revenue collected in 2025 has similarly not been allocated toward improving cancer treatment facilities.

Zimbabwe continues to bear one of the highest cancer burdens in Southern Africa, with an age-standardised incidence rate of 208 cases per 100,000 people and a mortality rate of 144 per 100,000, according to Globocan 2022. These figures surpass those of neighbouring countries such as South Africa (203/122), Namibia (193/113), Zambia (159/109), and Botswana (115/66).

The country records over 17,700 new cancer cases and nearly 12,000 deaths each year, largely due to late diagnosis and inadequate treatment infrastructure.

"This growing burden strains Zimbabwe's already fragile health system, escalates household health expenditure, and undermines national productivity," ZADHR warned.

The doctors' association urged the Ministry of Finance to urgently release the collected Sugar Tax funds to the Ministry of Health for the immediate purchase of cancer treatment machines. It also called for transparency and accountability in the procurement and installation process.

"Equitable access must be at the centre of the rollout. Beyond the main central hospitals, provincial and district centres should also benefit from these investments to ensure no patient is left behind," ZADHR said.

The association further recommended that the Ministry of Health invest in training and capacity building for technical staff to ensure proper use, maintenance, and sustainability of the new equipment once procured.
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Tags: Cancer,