HARARE, ZIMBABWE- The opposition has called for urgent transparency on the use of $38 million collected from a sugar tax intended to fund cancer treatment equipment. Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator Thokozani Khupe, a cancer survivor, raised the issue in Parliament, highlighting the escalating cancer crisis in the country.
Speaking to Speaker Jacob Mudenda, Khupe emphasized the growing number of cancer-related deaths, describing them as “names, faces, families, and futures tragically cut short.” She stressed the need for the government to prioritize cancer as a public health emergency, noting that the sugar tax, introduced in the 2024 National Budget, was meant to procure lifesaving equipment and medicines to bolster cancer care infrastructure.
Khupe revealed that earlier inquiries about the $38 million were met with assurances from the Ministry of Finance that procurement had begun. State media reported plans to purchase equipment directly from China to cut costs. However, Khupe demanded a ministerial statement from Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube to clarify the current status of the funds, including how much remains, the progress of equipment procurement, and measures to ensure transparency and efficiency.
“The urgency of this request cannot be overstated—delays cost lives,” Khupe told Parliament, underscoring the loss of “productive citizens” due to late diagnoses and inadequate treatment. Speaker Mudenda commended her and instructed Deputy Chief Whip Chinjai Kambuzuma to ensure the Finance Minister delivers the statement.
The call comes as Zimbabwe grapples with a rising cancer burden. The National Cancer Institute reports over 7,500 new cases and 2,500 deaths annually, with cancer projected to overtake HIV/AIDS as the leading cause of death. Last week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa visited Parirenyatwa and Sally Mugabe hospitals to assess their capacity, reflecting growing concern over healthcare infrastructure.
The sugar tax, levied on sugary beverages, has raised significant funds—$30.8 million by November 2024, according to the Finance Ministry—but questions persist about its allocation. The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights has also demanded details on equipment and drug purchases, citing a lack of clarity from the government
