The National Director of Zimbabwe Aids Network, Lindiwe Chaza-Jangira, said government needs to be more accountable and safeguard the nation’s resources.
The Abuja Agreement, to which Zimbabwe is a signatory, calls for the allocation of 15% of African nations’ budgets to health.
“Zimbabwe’s health budget for 2012 is 8,65% of the national budget, while in 2011 it was 9,3%. The million dollar question is whether Zimbabwe is a resource poor country? NO! This country has ample natural resources – but most of this is being subjected to abuse and corruption,” activists at the meeting heard.
“Personal allowances and purchase of motor vehicles for MPs should be properly managed for the good of the nation,” Jangira said.
Civil society is proposing that government look at additional local resources in addition to the National Aids Trust Fund phase two. Under the GF Round 8 phase two, Zimbabwe expects to get over $197 million for HIV support up to 2014.
The GF Extended Support Programme ended in 2011 and with no other funding mechanisms in place, at least 80 000 are expected to be forced off treatment, according to the Programmatic Gap Analysis for the GF Round 11.
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