Where Is the Sugar Tax Money Going? Doctors Demand Answers from Mthuli Ncube

on December 4, 2024 in Health and Wellbeing, News

Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion minister Mthuli Ncube holds a briefcase as he emerges from his Range Rover Velar 2024 edition to present the 2025 National Budget at the New Parliament in Mt Hampden

Doctors in Zimbabwe are demanding transparency from Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube over the use of money collected from the sugar tax. The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has formally requested detailed information on how the revenue has been utilised since the tax was introduced earlier this year.

Read more: Where Is the Sugar Tax Money Going? Doctors Demand Answers from Mthuli Ncube

Call for Transparency

ZADHR, through their lawyer Precious Chakasikwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, penned a letter to Ncube on 21 November 2024. The letter questions how much has been raised from the sugar tax and how the funds have been spent. Specifically, ZADHR seeks clarity on whether the money has been used to purchase cancer drugs and equipment, as originally promised.

“We are requesting an account of the total revenue collected from the sugar tax since its implementation on 9 February 2024 under Statutory Instrument 16/24,” the letter reads. “We also want a detailed report on what cancer-related resources have been procured and the list of hospitals that have received these items.”

The association invoked Section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act, citing the need for transparency and accountability in managing public funds.

Government’s Promises in Question

In February 2024, the government introduced a levy on sugary beverages, stating it aimed to reduce sugar consumption due to its links to cancer. Ncube defended the tax, explaining that the funds would be “ring-fenced” for cancer treatment and equipment procurement.

“The sugar tax is a direct response to concerns over the adverse effects of sugar consumption,” Ncube said at the time. “The revenue will be used for cancer therapy and to ensure critical equipment is available in hospitals.”

However, nearly ten months later, doctors are asking whether the funds have been allocated as promised.

ZADHR added that they expect a timely response from the Ministry of Finance. At the time of publishing, Minister Ncube had yet to respond to the request publicly.

SOURCE:: iHarare via link https://iharare.com/where-is-the-sugar-tax-money-going-doctors-demand-answers-from-mthuli-ncube/

Doctors query sweetness of Ncube’s sugar tax

on December 4, 2024 in Health and Wellbeing, News

Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion minister Mthuli Ncube 

THE Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has put Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Hon. Mthuli Ncube under the spotlight by requesting to be furnished with information detailing the total amount of sugar tax collected by government and how the financial resources have been utilised.

Read more: Doctors query sweetness of Ncube’s sugar tax

In a letter written on 21 November 2024 to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, ZADHR, which is represented by their lawyer, Precious Chakasikwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, asked the Ncube-led ministry to provide it with an account of how much special surtax on sugar content in beverages had been collected from 9 February 2024, when government gazetted Statutory Instrument 16/24, the Customs and Excise (Tariff) (Amendment) Notice, 2024 (No. 5).

ZADHR also wants the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion to furnish it with an account of what cancer drugs and equipment have been procured since the introduction of the sugar tax and the list of hospitals to which these have been distributed to.

The doctor’s association made the request for access to the information in terms of the provisions of section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act.

ZADHR’s request is aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

In February, government introduced a levy on sugary beverages claiming that this was aimed at discouraging people from consuming too much sugar, which it blamed for causing some forms of cancer.

Ncube justified the introduction of the sugar tax as a response to growing concerns on the adverse effects of consumption of sugar, stating that the funds generated from the levy would be ring-fenced for therapy and procurement of cancer equipment.

SOURCE:: The Zimbabwean via link https://www.thezimbabwean.co/2024/12/doctors-query-sweetness-of-ncubes-sugar-tax/

Zim rights doctors corner Finance Minister over sugar tax

on December 4, 2024 in Health and Wellbeing, News

Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion minister Mthuli Ncube

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has put Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube to task, demanding finer details on the government’s sugar tax revenue and its subsequent allocation.

Read more: Zim rights doctors corner Finance Minister over sugar tax

In a letter dated November 21, 2024, ZADHR, represented by attorney Precious Chakasikwa from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), the doctors demanded that Ncube should disclose the total amount collected from the special surtax on the sugar content of beverages.

This surtax was enacted following the government’s gazetting of Statutory Instrument 16/24 on February 9, 2024.

Additionally, the doctors want the ministry to provide details on what was purchased using the tax revenue and hospitals covered.

“ZADHR also wants the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion to furnish it with an account of what cancer drugs and equipment have been procured since the introduction of the sugar tax and the list of hospitals to which these have been distributed,” said ZLHR in a statement.

The association’s request for this information is grounded in section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act and is intended to foster transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

The sugar tax was introduced by the government in February as a measure to reduce excessive sugar consumption, which is linked to certain cancer types.

Ncube defended the tax, emphasising that the revenue generated would be dedicated to cancer treatment and the procurement of necessary medical equipment.

SOURCE:: NewZimbabwe via link https://www.newzimbabwe.com/zimbabwe-rights-doctors-corner-finance-minister-over-sugar-tax/