via Aids levy raises $85 million – The Zimbabwean 19 February 2015 by Nelson Sibanda
David Parirenyatwa, the Minister of Health, seems to be avoiding an interview with The Zimbabwean on allegations that the AIDS Levy has been abused.
Reports claim that Zanu (PF) diverted some of the funds in the early 2000s to party activities and did not pay back the ‘borrowed’ money’.
On three separate occasions the minister has failed to show up for the interview as agreed. His secretary referred this reporter to the permanent secretary, Rtd Brigadier Gerald Gwinji, whose personal secretary said Gwinji was not available and suggested that questions be directed to the Public Relations Office. The PRO asked for questions in writing but these had not been attended to at the time of going to press.
The National AIDS Council said it had no knowledge of embezzled funds and had received $85.2 million from levies collected from workers and companies between 2009 – 2012. The council said levies collected from 2000-2008 had been distorted by “super hyper- inflation”.
The funds are supposed to be used to prevent and cure HIV/AIDS, procure medical equipment such as CD4 count machines, medicines, laboratory equipment and assist orphaned and vulnerable children with school fees through BEAM.
In 2011 $270,000 was channelled towards the school fees programme. This amount doubled in 2012. $13.8 million was put in short term investments while NAC was completing procurement procedures for items and services.
Tadiwa Nyatanga Pfupa, the NAC communications officer, during the period under review, said $6.11 million was directed towards programme monitoring and evaluation, planning and coordination and capacity building.
“The funds remain inadequate to finance the whole HIV and AIDS national response. The informal sector, which employs over 75 percent of the population, is not yet contributing to the fund, hence the cash challenges,” noted Pfupa.
Zimbabwe introduced the AIDS Levy in 1999 to compensate for declining donor funding. Each formally employed worker is taxed 3 percent of his salary.
COMMENTS