The first consignment of cancer treatment machines procured using funds raised through the Sugar Tax is currently in Durban, South Africa, and is en route to Zimbabwe, with authorities expecting the equipment to arrive in the country within the first quarter of the year.
The machines were acquired using part of the US$30 million raised from the Sugar Tax introduced in the 2024 National Budget. According to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion’s 2026 Zimbabwe Infrastructure Investment Programme released in November last year, Treasury has so far paid US$5.3 million towards the purchase of the equipment.
Once delivered, the machines will be installed at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare and Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora confirmed the development on Monday while responding to a question during a tour assessing refurbishment works at Adlam House and Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospital. He said the equipment has already been manufactured.
Dr Mombeshora was accompanied during the tour by Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Permanent Secretary George Guvamatanga, Health and Child Care Permanent Secretary Dr Aspect Maunganidze, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals management and staff, other senior government officials, and representatives from Prevail Group, the contractor responsible for the refurbishment works.
“We are putting in new equipment, and that equipment has been manufactured. Part of the first consignment is already in Durban, on its way to here, Parirenyatwa,” Dr Mombeshora said. “And the second tranche of equipment, we are hoping—we just received the news that it has been manufactured—and we are going to send a team for pre-shipment inspection.”
The Minister said existing cancer treatment machines at Mpilo Central Hospital will be decommissioned and relocated to Gweru Provincial Hospital as part of a broader strategy to decentralise cancer treatment services.
“So, I think everything is in order. Already, we are looking at decommissioning the equipment at Mpilo and relocating it at Gweru Provincial Hospital. So it is also a work in progress,” he said.
Dr Mombeshora added that preparations are underway to ensure space is available for the new equipment once it arrives.
“We are working on the final modality so that when the new equipment arrives, there is already space created for it to be there. So we are actually creating a new cancer treatment centre in Gweru,” he said. “So for Parirenyatwa, I think everything is in place.”
He also said refurbishment of radiation bunkers is ongoing to ensure they meet the technical and safety requirements of the new cancer treatment machines.
“We are just waiting for the arrival of the equipment and refurbishing of the bunkers so that we also have something that looks to match the new equipment and the new look of the hospital that is being created here,” he said.
Once completed, the expansion will increase the number of radiotherapy sites in Zimbabwe from two to four. Authorities say this is expected to ease pressure on existing facilities, reduce waiting times and bring life-saving cancer treatment closer to patients in different parts of the country.
Last year, Dr Mombeshora said the older cancer treatment machine at Parirenyatwa would either be relocated to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital or Masvingo Provincial Hospital, with Masvingo receiving strong consideration due to its emerging medical school.
“The next phase will also be the decommissioning of the equipment at Parirenyatwa, and we plan to either put it in Chinhoyi hospital or in Masvingo,” he said.
“But I was suggesting that we put it in Masvingo since there is a new medical school that is coming up there, maybe to help in training.”
The planned establishment of radiotherapy services in Gweru and either Masvingo or Chinhoyi is expected to mark a major milestone in Zimbabwe’s efforts to decentralise specialised cancer care and strengthen medical training beyond Harare and Bulawayo.
Source – Health Times
