Mbizo MP Corban Madzivanyika (CCC) has pressed the Ministry of Finance to account for US$27.3 million in sugar-tax revenue, arguing that four cancer treatment machines bought for Zimbabwe’s two largest referral hospitals were grossly overpriced. Madzivanyika raised the allegations in the National Assembly during debate on the 2026 Mid-Term Fiscal Review, arguing that the reported […]
Mbizo MP Corban Madzivanyika (CCC) has pressed the Ministry of Finance to account for US$27.3 million in sugar-tax revenue, arguing that four cancer treatment machines bought for Zimbabwe’s two largest referral hospitals were grossly overpriced.
Madzivanyika raised the allegations in the National Assembly during debate on the 2026 Mid-Term Fiscal Review, arguing that the reported expenditure could not be justified by the equipment delivered.
He told Parliament that, according to his assessment, each cancer machine should cost no more than US$500,000 after duty and freight charges.
Based on that estimate, four machines would cost about US$2 million in total — around US$25.3 million less than the expenditure reported by Treasury.
“Each machine costs US$500,000 at maximum, including duty and freight charges, but we are seeing the Government spending US$27 million for four cancer machines,” Madzivanyika said.
“That is outrageous, Hon. Minister. That is totally out of this world.”
Madzivanyika alleged that public funds may have been misappropriated and called for an investigation into the procurement process.
He, however, did not present documentary evidence in Parliament to support his US$500,000 estimate or identify the manufacturers and specifications on which he based the comparison.
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube rejected the claim that the entire amount represented the purchase price of four radiotherapy machines, saying the expenditure covered a broader package that included diagnostic equipment, medicines and other healthcare supplies.
However, Ncube acknowledged that the prices paid could still warrant further examination.
“I will use a different word, value for money, that perhaps in terms of the pricing, there may not have been value for money and I should check that,” Ncube said.
“If he has some information, I will encourage him to give it to me directly, and then I can investigate appropriately.”
Ncube did not provide Parliament with an itemised breakdown showing how much was paid for the four radiotherapy machines and how the remaining funds were allocated to additional equipment, medicines and supplies.
In June, Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora said four radiotherapy machines — two multi-energy and two low-energy units — had been procured during the programme’s first phase and that the “total cost came to about US$27 million”. He added that the package included two CT scanners.
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