Zimbabwe has taken delivery of the first two of four cancer treatment machines aimed at expanding access to life-saving radiotherapy services, with the equipment allocated to Mpilo Central Hospital and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, the country’s primary referral institutions.
The machines were procured under the National Development Strategy 2 and funded through the 2024 Sugar Tax on sugary beverages. Treasury paid US$5.3 million in deposits last year toward the acquisition.
In a statement, yesterday, Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora said the arrival of the equipment marks tangible progress in addressing longstanding challenges in cancer treatment.
“This is a major milestone for Zimbabwe’s health sector. For many years, cancer patients have faced significant difficulties accessing radiotherapy due to limited capacity and ageing equipment. The delivery of these machines represents a decisive move towards improving cancer care,”he said
Minister Mombeshora noted that preparations at the receiving institutions are nearing completion.
“Renovations of the radiation bunkers at Mpilo Central Hospital and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals are now at an advanced stage.
These bunkers are critical to ensuring the safe installation and operation of the machines. Our teams have been working diligently to meet the required technical and safety standards,”he said
He added that the new equipment will replace older units currently in service.
“As we commission the new machines, older equipment will be decommissioned. However, this does not mean they will be discarded. Some of the functional machines will be reassigned to provincial facilities to widen access to treatment,” Minister Mombeshora added.
Among the beneficiaries of this redistribution programme is Gweru Provincial Hospital, which is expected to become an additional radiotherapy centre.
“The reassignment of machines to provincial hospitals such as Gweru Provincial Hospital is part of our decentralisation strategy.
We want to reduce the burden on central hospitals and bring services closer to communities. Cancer treatment should not be a privilege limited to a few urban centres,” he said.
Minister Mombeshora emphasised that expanding radiotherapy capacity remains a national priority.
“Cancer is an increasing public health concern,” he said. “Government will continue mobilising resources to modernise equipment, train specialists and improve patient outcomes,” he said.
The acquisition of new machines forms part of broader health sector reforms under National Development Strategy 2.
