Zambia rejects Trump’s $1bn health funding package over conditions

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 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 African countries.

Reuters reported that under the proposed deal, the US was expected to provide more than $1 billion while Zambia would give about $340 million over the next five years.

The agreement was initially due to be signed in November last year, but was delayed due to problematic sections. Zambia has now pulled out altogether until the draft is amended.

A Zambian Ministry of Health spokesperson told Reuters on Wednesday that the draft agreement “did not align with the position and interests” of Zambia, but suggested it is not linked to mineral resources.

However, in December, the US said it was committed to a plan to give 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 Congo, and also has 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 “charity.”

Zambia’s refusal 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.

The US said at least 16 African countries had signed the deal, including Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya, although Kenya’s has been suspended due to a court case.

SOURCES: TRT AFFRIKA