Obadiah Moyo Proposes Salt Tax on Food Manufacturers to Curb Health Risks

Former Health Minister Obadiah Moyo

Former Health Minister Obadiah Moyo has suggested that Zimbabwe should consider introducing a tax on food manufacturers whose products exceed recommended sodium levels, arguing that the measure could help promote healthier eating habits and reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases. Moyo, who now serves as national health advisor for the National Men’s Forum for Economic Development, said the proposed tax would target companies that fail to comply with sodium limits in processed foods.

Speaking on the proposal, Moyo outlined a framework that would require food manufacturers to reduce salt levels in products such as soups, stock cubes, processed meats, and salty snacks.

“First, we set sodium limits for processed products, soups, stocks, processed meats, salty snacks,” he said. “Second, manufacturers must reduce salt to meet those limits. “Third, if they exceed the threshold, they pay a higher excise tax; the saltier the product, the higher the rate.”

Moyo stressed that the tax would not directly target consumers but rather manufacturers whose products exceed recommended sodium levels.

“Consumers are not taxed. You are protected by cheaper, lower-salt options and by warnings about salt use at home,” he said.

He added that revenue generated from companies that fail to comply with sodium limits could be directed towards health programmes such as blood pressure screening, public education campaigns, and treatment support in clinics and schools.

“The tax itself nudges industry and shoppers toward healthier choices,” Moyo said.

Health experts have long warned that excessive salt intake is a major contributor to high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Moyo said reducing salt consumption is an important step in addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in Zimbabwe. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is among the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease worldwide.

Zimbabwe has already introduced measures aimed at reducing excessive sugar consumption.

In 2024, the government introduced a levy on sugary beverages known as the Special Surtax on Sugar Content. The measure was announced in the 2024 National Budget and later implemented through Statutory Instrument 16 of 2024 in February that year. Under the current system, manufacturers of ready-to-drink beverages are charged US$0.001 per gram of added sugar, while cordials and concentrates attract a lower rate of US$0.0005 per gram.

Authorities say funds generated from the tax are earmarked for the health sector, particularly programmes aimed at preventing and treating non-communicable diseases. Moyo suggested that a similar approach targeting excessive salt in processed foods could further strengthen national efforts to improve public health.

Obadiah Moyo salt tax