The United States has criticised Zambia for failing to engage on a new health aid agreement worth more than $1 billion, saying repeated outreach from Washington went unanswered as an April 30 deadline passed without a deal.
Outgoing U.S. Ambassador Michael Gonzales said the failure to finalise the memorandum of understanding (MOU) means funding continues on an ad hoc basis, without a clear plan for programmes targeting HIV, malaria, maternal and child health, and disease preparedness.
“Instead of continuing to languish without engagement, the actual funding under our Health MOU should have started this month,” Gonzales said in remarks on Thursday evening as he prepared to leave his post.
Some health advocates have raised concerns that the deal ties aid to mining access and creates data-sharing risks. Gonzales dismissed those claims as “disgusting and patently false,” denying that Washington was threatening to withhold life-saving healthcare “unless we get critical minerals.”
Zambian presidential spokesperson Clayson Hamasaka said the government would address the issue through diplomatic channels.
“We appreciate the support we have received from the U.S. and other countries…If there are any concerns, we are open to dialogue but that should be done through laid down diplomatic channels,” Hamasaka said in response.
The stalled agreement comes after Washington previously cut aid over the theft of donated medicines, highlighting governance issues in Zambia’s health system.
A draft reviewed by Reuters shows the deal also requires about $340 million in co-financing from the Zambian government.
Gonzales said Washington had faced “effectively zero substantive engagement” from Zambian officials since January, with calls unanswered and meetings cancelled, blocking meaningful negotiations.
The agreement was originally set to be signed in November but stalled after revised drafts were circulated.
Gonzales added that the U.S. would maintain its long-standing commitment to the Zambian people, including supplying antiretroviral drugs and preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission, but warned that large-scale aid would depend on concrete reforms.
