Zimbabwe Moves to Ring-Fence Sugar Tax Revenue for Healthcare

Nokusa Masuku

The Government is seeking to ring-fence revenue generated from sugar taxes and other health-related levies to ensure the funds are used exclusively to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.

Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora said the move is aimed at creating a sustainable source of funding for critical health services, including cancer treatment, maternal and neonatal healthcare programmes, and efforts to combat the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.

Authorities are engaging the Treasury, Parliament and the Presidency to establish mechanisms that will guarantee health taxes are channelled directly into the healthcare sector rather than being redirected to other government priorities.

Zimbabwe has already used part of the revenue collected through the sugar tax to procure cancer treatment equipment, demonstrating the potential impact of dedicated health funding.

Government believes that fully ring-fencing health tax revenues would provide a more predictable and reliable funding stream, helping to improve service delivery and strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to major health challenges.

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