THE Youth Accountability Initiative (YAI) has demanded transparency from the Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion ministry on the procurement of radiotherapy and cancer treatment machines reportedly purchased using ring-fenced sugar tax funds.
Government recently acquired four new cancer treatment machines — two multi-energy and two low-energy radiotherapy units — which are set to be installed at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and Mpilo Central Hospital.
The equipment, valued at US$27 million, was funded through revenue generated from the sugar tax and is expected to significantly enhance cancer treatment services in the country.
In a letter dated June 9 addressed to the ministry’s information officer, lawyers from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), acting on behalf of YAI, said officials had turned down a request for information, insisting on a covering letter despite the application having been submitted in the prescribed format.
“We attempted to file a request for information on behalf of our client and officials from your offices refused to accept filing and service of the same, demanding a covering letter instead,” the letter read.
The lawyers argued that the request was submitted in the format prescribed under the Freedom of Information Act and should, therefore, have been accepted.
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“We wish to state that requests for information and the form which we utilised are prescribed in terms of the First Schedule to the Freedom of Information Act,” the lawyers said.
YAI is seeking details surrounding the acquisition of radiotherapy and cancer treatment equipment funded through the sugar tax, which was introduced to support the country’s health sector.
The organisation wants the Finance ministry to disclose the number of radiotherapy and cancer treatment machines acquired, the total amount paid for the equipment, the identities of the suppliers and whether the procurement process went through a public tender.
“In the circumstances, we demand that you accept and process our client’s request for information in terms of the law,” the lawyers added.
In a public statement, YAI said access to information, transparency and accountability were essential principles of good governance and public administration.
“Citizens have a right to know how public resources are spent,” the organisation said.
The demand comes amid growing public interest in the utilisation of sugar tax revenue and concerns over transparency in public procurement processes, particularly in the health sector where cancer patients continue to face challenges in accessing treatment services.
At the time of publication, the Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion ministry had not publicly responded to the request.
Finance minister Mthuli Ncube recently expressed satisfaction with the procurement of the radiotherapy machines, saying it was encouraging to see revenue generated through the sugar tax being put to productive use.
Ncube said the government would continue allocating resources towards the procurement of additional equipment to strengthen cancer care services across the country.
Meanwhile, Health and Child Care minister Douglas Mombeshora said the government planned to decentralise cancer treatment services to provinces in a bid to improve access to care and strengthen cancer management nationwide.