Zambia Joins Zimbabwe, Rejects Conditional U.S. America First Health Aid

Lusaka - Reports coming from Zambia say the Southern African nation has joined Zimbabwe in rejecting the lope sided United State if America (U.S.) America First Global Health Strategy aid and has demanded changes to the dangled package.

The health assistance package, valued at over US$1 billion over a five yearsl peariod, alignes with neighbouring Zimbabwe's decision to abandon similar negotiations amid worries about unequal terms, mandatory data transfers and potential ties to mining interests.

A Zambian Health Ministry official stated on Wednesday, February 25, that certain provisions in the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) failed to match the country's priorities and requirements.

The Zambian government has asked Washington to amend those sections while affirming its willingness to continue discussions on fair grounds.

The Zambian side stressed that the proposed accord centres purely on public health priorities such as HIV/AIDS control, malaria reduction, outbreak readiness and maternal-child care.

Zambian government officials explicitly denied any connection of the U.S. proposed health deal to mining activities or natural resource concessions, describing the arrangement as unrelated to copper, cobalt or other minerals.

Under the draft terms reviewed by various outlets, the United States would commit roughly US$1 billion in support, with Zambia expected to match a portion, around $340 million, through domestic contributions.

Continued disbursements however hinge on finalising a separate bilateral understanding by early April, which multiple informed sources link to cooperation in the minerals extractive sector.

Critics, including health campaigners, have flagged a proposed 10-year data-sharing obligation that would see Zambia supply detailed health and biological information to U.S. entities without equivalent reciprocal access to resulting innovations, such as new treatments or preventive tools.

A U.S. State Department representative noted that foreign aid under the current administration aims to advance American priorities, emphasising that assistance is not unconditional charity.

Just a day before, Zimbabwe formally ceased discussions on a distinct $367 million U.S. health proposal, labelling the conditions imbalanced and detrimental to national control.

A leaked government letter highlighted demands for prolonged sharing of sensitive biological materials and epidemiological records without assurances of benefiting from any derived medical advancements.

Officials also described the framework as fundamentally one-sided, arguing that conditioning support on concessions involving data privacy or resource access transforms partnership into exploitation.

Zimbabwe's Secretary for Information and government Spokesperson, Nick Mangwana, indicated the move reflects a broader insistence on equitable dealings rather than hostility toward the United States.

The U.S. mission in Harare confirmed plans to scale back existing health programmes as a result.

Broader context of the America First approach

The developments mark growing resistance to elements of Washington's America First Global Health Strategy, which pairs direct bilateral funding with host-country commitments and alignment on U.S. strategic goals.

While several African governments have finalised comparable arrangements, others, in the sub-saharan region including Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe, have paused or rejected drafts over perceived asymmetries.

Concerns centre on data governance, potential indirect leverage over strategic commodities and the risk that health support becomes contingent on unrelated economic concessions.

Zambia and Zimbabwe maintain longstanding connections rooted in anti-colonial solidarity, geographic proximity and economic interdependence.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Zambia served as a key base for Zimbabwean independence fighters.

Post-independence relations have featured robust trade, cross-border communities and joint infrastructure efforts, though occasional political frictions have arisen.

Both nations have historically depended significantly on U.S.-backed initiatives to combat infectious diseases, with substantial investments in HIV, tuberculosis and malaria responses over recent decades.

Advocates however caution that stalled agreements could interrupt critical services, while supporters of the rejections view them as steps toward greater autonomy in international partnerships.

Zambia's authorities reiterated openness to revised terms that respect mutual respect and sovereignty.