THE Health and Child Care ministry has confirmed that two high-energy cancer treatment machines, funded through the sugar tax, are due for delivery to Mpilo Central Hospital and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
The arrival of these machines is a critical step towards expanding cancer treatment capacity in Zimbabwe’s public hospitals.
For years, patients have had to wait for long periods and often had to seek care abroad due to outdated equipment and limited local services.
Delays in installing the machines risk denying citizens timely and effective treatment, raising serious concerns about the State’s ability to uphold patients’ health
rights.
Health and Child Care ministry secretary Aspect Maunganidze provided the update while responding to inquiries from the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR), which had sought information through its lawyers.
The lawyers wrote to the ministry in October and December last year seeking clarification on the status of cancer treatment equipment meant for installation at public hospitals, and complained that their letters had not been acknowledged.
In an earlier follow-up letter dated January 19 this year, Kantor and Immerman Legal Practitioners warned that the matter will be referred back to the Zimbabwe Media Commission if the ministry failed to respond.
- In Full: Nineteenth post-cabinet press briefing: July 05, 2022
- Hesitancy slows Covid vaccination for children
- Hesitancy slows Covid vaccination for children
- Multisectoral COVID-19 messaging campaign improving prevention and vaccine uptake in Zimbabwe
Keep Reading
“Our letters of 13 October 2025 and 15 December 2025 (copies attached) have not been acknowledged or responded to. Kindly please respond thereto before we refer the matter back to the commission,” the
letter read.
In a letter dated January 22 this year, addressed to Kantor and Immerman Legal Practitioners, Maunganidze said the machines were delivered through a contractor, Satewave Technologies, but they were still to be installed and commissioned at designated health institutions.
“The aforementioned machines are yet to be installed and commissioned. Preparatory works for the construction and readiness of the respective bunkers earmarked for the installation of the equipment are currently underway,” Maunganidze said.
He said the ministry would be appointing staff to inspect the high-energy cancer machines before delivery.
“In relation to the high-energy cancer treatment machines, the ministry is in the process of appointing the relevant personnel to undertake the pre-shipment inspection process prior to delivery,” Maunganidze said.
Zimbabwe’s public health sector has long faced challenges in providing adequate cancer treatment services, with patients often forced to seek care outside the country due to limited equipment and long waiting
periods.
ZADHR has previously raised concern over delays in the procurement, installation and commissioning of critical health equipment, particularly cancer treatment machinery, citing the impact on the health rights of patients.
