WHEN the government introduced the sugar tax in 2024, the justification was clear and compelling: the revenue would be used to purchase much-needed cancer machines to save lives. The public accepted the tax burden in good faith, believing their contributions would directly translate into better healthcare for cancer patients.
Yet, months after millions of dollars have been collected, not a single machine has been procured. This delay is not just a broken promise — it is a matter of life and death for countless citizens battling cancer. The government must act immediately to fulfil its commitment.
In December last year, Health and Child Care minister Douglas Mombeshora said they were expected to procure some machines before December 31, but to date nothing has been procured.
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in our country. Everyday, patients endure long waiting times for diagnosis and treatment due to a severe shortage of functional cancer machines.
Many are referred to distant facilities, while others never receive the care they need in time. The sugar tax was supposed to alleviate this crisis, yet the funds remain unused while people suffer. How many more lives must be lost before the government treats this issue with the urgency it demands?
Government’s failure to live up to its promise raises serious questions about accountability. If the money is not being used for its intended purpose, where is it going?
The public deserves a full audit and a clear explanation. Taxes imposed for specific social benefits must not be diverted to unrelated expenditures. The government must provide a detailed breakdown of the sugar tax revenue and a concrete timeline for the procurement of cancer machines. Anything less is a betrayal of public trust.
Taxation is a social contract between the government and its citizens. When new levies are introduced, the people expect that their sacrifices will lead to tangible benefits. The sugar tax was marketed as a necessary measure to improve healthcare — not as another general revenue stream.
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If the government fails to deliver on this promise, it risks eroding public confidence in future policy initiatives. Why should citizens support new taxes if past assurances are being not honoured?
The government must take urgent action. It should release a public report disclosing exactly how much has been collected from the sugar tax and how the funds are being managed.
The procurement of cancer machines must be fast-tracked, with civil society and medical professionals involved in oversight to prevent corruption or mismanagement.
Every day of inaction means more preventable deaths. The money has been collected; now it must be put to work where it was pledged — to save lives. The nation is watching, and history will judge whether this administration prioritised bureaucracy over the health of its people.
The time to act is now.
