Zambia has pushed back against elements of a proposed health assistance agreement worth more than $1 billion (Sh129 billion) with the United States (US), citing misalignment with its national interests, the government said on Wednesday.
The five-year deal would govern US funding for HIV and malaria programmes, disease outbreak preparedness, and maternal and child health.
It also requires Zambia to provide about $340 million (Sh43.8 billion) in co-financing, according to a draft agreement reviewed by Reuters.
The agreement, initially expected to be signed in November, stalled after revised drafts introduced a section that Zambia’s Ministry of Health described as problematic.
A ministry spokesperson said the content “did not align with the position and interests of the government of Zambia”, prompting Lusaka to request further revisions, without disclosing specifics.
In December, Washington said it had committed with Zambia to a framework aimed at unlocking major US grant support in exchange for cooperation in the mining sector and business reforms.
Zambia is Africa’s second-largest copper producer after the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and holds significant reserves of cobalt, nickel, manganese, graphite, lithium, and rare-earth elements.
Responding to queries earlier this month, the US State Department declined to disclose details of the negotiations, according to a Reuters report.
A spokesperson quoted Secretary of State Marco Rubio as saying that US foreign assistance “is not charity” but a tool to advance American national interests.
Zambia’s stance mirrors that of Zimbabwe, which has also withdrawn from talks on a $367 million (Sh47.3 billion) bilateral health agreement with the United States.
Harare raised concerns over demands to share sensitive health and biological data in exchange for funding.
Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana described the proposal as an “unequal exchange”, arguing that Zimbabwe was being asked to share data without guarantees of access to resulting medical innovations such as vaccines or treatments. (Agency’s report)
