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Zambia has reportedly rejected a more than US$1-billion U.S. funding package, saying conditions set by Washington do not align with its national interests, state media and officials said on Thursday.
The move places Zambia alongside neighbouring Zimbabwe, which has also declined to join the programme initiated under the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, according to TRT Africa English News.
The package is aimed at combating diseases in African countries but is, in several cases, tied to granting Washington broader access to mineral resources and sensitive health data of citizens, the outlet reported.
Reuters reported that under the proposed agreement the United States would contribute more than US$1 billion, while Zambia would provide about US$340 million over five years.
The deal had initially been scheduled for signing in November last year but was delayed due to what officials described as problematic provisions. Zambia has now withdrawn entirely until the draft is amended.
Reuters quoted a spokesperson for the Zambian Ministry of Health on Wednesday, Feb. 25, as saying the draft agreement “did not align with the position and interests” of the country. The spokesperson said the concerns were not related to mineral resources.
However, in December, the U.S. said it remained committed to offering Zambia a “substantial grant package” in exchange for “collaboration in the mining sector.”
Zambia is Africa’s second-largest copper producer after the Democratic Republic of the Congo and also has cobalt, nickel, manganese, graphite, lithium and rare-earth elements.
The Trump administration, following its “America First” foreign policy approach, has repeatedly argued that U.S. foreign funding should not be treated as charity.
Zambia’s refusal comes after Zimbabwe also pulled out of a similar US$367-million agreement, citing concerns about granting the U.S. access to critical minerals and personal health data, which officials feared could be exploited for U.S. interests.
The U.S. has said at least 16 African countries have signed the agreement, including Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya, although Kenya’s deal has been suspended pending a court challenge.
While some Africans applaud the countries rejecting the “America First” package, others argue that governments should instead invest in building domestic resilience with minimal reliance on foreign aid, given the continent’s abundant natural resources.
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