The government has made a lot of money from taxing sweet drinks. They started this tax in February 2024, and by November, they got US$30.8 million.
The doctors wanted to know what happened to all this money. They sent a letter asking about it through their lawyers. Mr. Guvamatanga, who works as a top money person in the government, wrote back to tell them.
He told them exactly how much money they collected from taxing sugary drinks. But when the doctors asked what they bought with the money, he said they needed to ask someone else. He told them the Health Ministry takes care of buying medical stuff, not his department.
This all started because Minister Ncube wanted to help people with cancer. He made a new tax rule in late 2023. The plan was simple - put extra tax on drinks with lots of sugar, then use that money to help people fighting cancer.
The doctors had a right to ask these questions. They used a special law that lets people find out what the government does. They wanted to make sure the money went where it should go.
Right after the tax started, drinks with sugar in them cost more. The government kept track of all the money from this tax. They can show exactly how much came in, but they can't say what medical things they bought with it yet.
The doctors wanted to know what happened to all this money. They sent a letter asking about it through their lawyers. Mr. Guvamatanga, who works as a top money person in the government, wrote back to tell them.
He told them exactly how much money they collected from taxing sugary drinks. But when the doctors asked what they bought with the money, he said they needed to ask someone else. He told them the Health Ministry takes care of buying medical stuff, not his department.
This all started because Minister Ncube wanted to help people with cancer. He made a new tax rule in late 2023. The plan was simple - put extra tax on drinks with lots of sugar, then use that money to help people fighting cancer.
The doctors had a right to ask these questions. They used a special law that lets people find out what the government does. They wanted to make sure the money went where it should go.
Right after the tax started, drinks with sugar in them cost more. The government kept track of all the money from this tax. They can show exactly how much came in, but they can't say what medical things they bought with it yet.
