The
sugar
tax,
introduced
on
1
January
2024,
was
designed
to
discourage
excessive
sugar
consumption
and
generate
revenue
for
the
treatment
of
lifestyle-related
diseases
such
as
cancer.
The
levy
was
initially
set
at
US$0.02
per
gram
but
was
later
reduced
to
US$0.001
per
gram
in
February
2024
after
objections
from
industry.
By
late
last
year,
authorities
had
reported
collecting
more
than
US$30
million
from
the
measure.
During
a
recent
question-and-answer
session
in
the
National
Assembly,
Bulawayo
Central
MP
Surrender
Kapoikilu
asked
the
Ministry
of
Finance
and
Economic
Development
to
clarify
how
the
funds
were
being
deployed.
“What
are
the
government’s
policies
on
the
use
of
revenue
from
the
sugar
tax?
What
is
it
supposed
to
be
used
for?”
he
asked.
Responding,
Deputy
Finance
Minister
Kudakwashe
Mnangagwa
said
the
policy
had
not
changed
since
the
levy
was
announced
in
the
2024
national
budget.
“The
idea
of
these
sin
taxes
was
to
ring-fence
them
for
lifestyle
diseases
such
as
cancer,
among
others,”
he
said.
“We
are
guided
by
the
Minister
of
Health
on
the
equipment
that
they
want
to
purchase.
Some
of
these
proceeds
have
already
gone
towards
such.
So
the
policy
still
stands.”
But
Kapoikilu
said
conditions
on
the
ground
did
not
reflect
any
meaningful
improvements
in
cancer
care
at
public
hospitals.
“The
ministry
says
the
money
is
supposed
to
be
used
for
cancer
therapeutic
services
and
buying
cancer
machines,”
he
said.
“But
my
worry
is
how
come
our
radiotherapy
centres
in
our
main
hospitals
are
still
in
the
state
they
are
in.”
He
cited
Mpilo
Central
Hospital
in
Bulawayo,
where,
he
said,
the
radiotherapy
section
had
not
treated
a
patient
since
2022.
“We
have
been
collecting
sugar
tax
from
February
2024.
I’m
very
concerned
about
what
is
happening
to
the
money,
because
our
institutions
are
in
a
poor
state,”
Kapoikilu
added.
Chipinge
MP
Clifford
Hlatshwayo
also
called
for
greater
transparency,
arguing
that
taxpayers
deserved
clear
information
on
how
the
revenue
was
being
used.
“Sugar
tax
is
being
contributed
by
every
citizen.
It
is
important
for
people
to
know
what
is
happening
to
the
money,”
he
said.
“People
must
get
treatment.”
Zimbabwe
has
long
struggled
with
shortages
of
cancer
treatment
equipment,
with
patients
often
facing
long
waiting
times
or
being
forced
to
seek
care
in
private
facilities
or
outside
the
country,
at
high
cost.