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The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) General Secretary Reverant Wilfred Dimingu Monday opposed the health tax on fast food outlets, which Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube presented recently, claiming the tax will hit hard on the poor.
In his 2025 National Budget presentation, Ncube announced the fast food tax, stressing it will lessen the growing prevalence of obesity and related non-communicable diseases. The fast food tax rated at 0,5% will apply on pizza, burgers, hot dogs, shawarma, French fries, chicken, doughnuts, and tacos
Addressing journalists in Harare on the post budget analysis program, Dimingu said the recommendations they raised before the budget presentation were not addressed, insisting the government’s move to tax fast food outlets will mainly affect the poor.
“The budget isn’t pro poor, as we pushed for in the consultative process. We know there are taxes coming, like the health tax on fast foods. As we appreciate the need to promote health, we must not forget that fast foods are consumed by those who can be regarded as poor. Looking at where chicken inn is expanding, we realize this tax will actually affect more on less privileged,” he said.
ZCC president Bishop Ignatious Makumbe, who was part of the delegates, advised the government to come up with various projects that generate revenue to avoid taxing the poor.
“We advised as church that you will never get enough revenue when you focus on tax. We have minerals, why are we not mining as government? We can sell minerals and relieve people from tax. I think we are our own enemies, because we think taxes are better than our minerals,” he said.
Meanwhile, some industry players expressed concerns about the fast food tax, fearing it could marginally raise prices and reduce consumer demand. However, analysts believe the policy will bring long-term benefits by reducing public health costs associated with obesity-related conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.
