By A Correspondent- Speaking in parliament, Chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on Health Dr Ruth Labode expressed disappointment over failure by government to honour its obligation to the Global Fund in a development which will potentially see the country failling to access over US $400million in funding.

Said Dr Labode:

” I once raised a point of privilege on the issue of the Global Fund, the one you have just announced – the petition.  Does my point of privilege where the Speaker ruled that the Minister would come to Parliament and answer gets overruled by the petition now.  This issue has been raised here twice and the Minister gave a response last time that he will respond and pay.  Those were his words.  He said he will pay and right now we are about to lose almost US$400 million because we cannot pay US$6 million.

Twice I have raised on a point of privilege that Zimbabwe committed itself to be part of the Global Fund.  The Global Fund is a fund of many international countries that are bringing funds together.  Right now, we are lobbying to get $20 billion to control HIV, Malaria and TB.  From that US$20 billion, our share as Zimbabwe has been US$ 400 million.  One of the things we committed ourselves to do is that we will meet our own counterpart in order for us to be able to get that US$400 million.  

We will produce our own share as a nation to show political commitment towards the fund, which was US$6 million.  I raised it in this House and the Speaker instructed the Minister to come and respond.  The Minister of Finance came and he said he would pay; and he said he had paid.  Here we are now; we are desperate.  

I know there is a letter which has been written to the Speaker from the National Aids Council requesting something to be done as a matter of urgency.  We have over two million people on HIV drugs and we do not spend not even one cent as a nation on HIV drugs, tinongomapiwa.  We really need desperately to do something, US$6 million ngaitsvagiwe.”

Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi however pledged to follow up on the payment and said:

“I acknowledge what Hon. Labode is saying.  On Tuesday, I had an occasion of speaking to the Minister of Finance with my counterpart, the Minister of Health and he indicated that he had paid US$2.9 million but we then indicated that it is not sufficient.  What is required is to pay the US$6 million so that we can access the benefits.  

If we do not pay, it means that we will not be able to get the ARVs as is being alluded to by Hon. Labode.  He promised that he was going to look into it and pay the amount.  I will follow up and advise accordingly.”