Zambia has rejected a more than $1 billion funding package from the US administration of Donald Trump, citing conditions in the proposed deal that “do not align with the position and interests of Zambia,” a Zambian Ministry of Health spokesperson said on Wednesday, February 25.
The move makes Zambia the latest African country, after Zimbabwe, to decline the controversial US health initiative.
“Zambia has rejected a more than $1 billion US funding package, saying conditions set by Washington do not align with its national interests. It has now joined neighbouring Zimbabwe in turning down the Donald Trump administration’s health initiative,” the spokesperson explained.
The funding package was designed to fight diseases in African countries. However, critics argue it comes with strings attached, including granting Washington greater access to mineral resources and sensitive health data of citizens in participating countries.
“The package aims to fight diseases in African countries, but in many cases it is tied to granting Washington greater access to mineral resources and sensitive health data of citizens of the African countries,” noted one analyst.
According to Reuters, under the proposed agreement, the US would provide more than $1 billion, while Zambia was expected to contribute approximately $340 million over five years. “It was initially due to be signed in November last year, but had to be delayed due to some problematic sections.
“ Now Zambia has pulled out altogether until the draft is amended,” said the Zambian Ministry of Health spokesperson, clarifying that the decision was not linked to mineral resources.
However, in December, the US confirmed its commitment to providing Zambia with a substantial grant package in exchange for collaboration in the mining sector. Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer after the Democratic Republic of Congo, also has deposits of cobalt, nickel, manganese, graphite, lithium, and rare earth elements.
“The Trump administration, pursuing an America First transactional foreign policy, has repeatedly said that US foreign funding should not be treated as a charity.
“Zambia’s refusal to sign the deal with Washington comes after Zimbabwe also pulled out of a similar agreement worth $367 million, citing concerns over granting the US access to critical minerals and personal health data of Zimbabweans, which the US could use for its own purposes,” said another observer.
The US maintains that at least 16 African countries have signed the controversial deal, including Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya. “Although Kenya’s has been suspended due to a court case, while some Africans hail the countries rejecting the America First package, others urge governments on the continent to do more to develop their citizens with little or no reliance on foreign funding, given the vast resources the continent is blessed with,” the analyst added.
Boluwatife Enome
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