LUSAKA, May 4 – Zambia has rejected a U.S. proposal to link health funding to access to critical minerals, providing fresh details on why negotiations between the two countries have stalled.
Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe said United States officials had offered up to $2 billion in support over five years under a proposed health agreement. However, Lusaka raised concerns that certain provisions, particularly around data sharing, could violate citizens’ privacy rights.
The government also objected to a separate critical minerals agreement, citing provisions that would grant preferential treatment to U.S. companies. Officials said the structure of the negotiations, which effectively linked the two agreements, was a key sticking point.
“A further concern is the coupling of the proposed agreements such that the conclusion of the critical minerals deal is made conditional on the health memorandum of understanding,” Haimbe said, adding that Zambia insists both frameworks be assessed independently.
The dispute highlights growing tensions over the evolving structure of U.S. foreign assistance under President Donald Trump, which increasingly integrates strategic resource access with development financing.
While the U.S. State Department has declined to comment on the specifics of the negotiations, the proposed arrangement has drawn scrutiny from health advocates, who warned that linking aid to mining access could introduce governance and data protection risks.
Zambia’s response follows criticism from outgoing U.S. ambassador Michael Gonzales, who accused the government of failing to engage meaningfully on the health funding offer. Lusaka has rejected that claim, maintaining that it remains open to cooperation but on terms aligned with national interests.
The standoff reflects a broader trend across Africa, where governments are increasingly scrutinising external financing agreements that combine development support with strategic economic interests. Countries including Ghana and Zimbabwe have also pushed back against similar proposals, particularly over data-sharing requirements.
For Zambia, one of Africa’s key copper producers, the outcome of the negotiations could shape not only its access to external financing but also the terms under which it engages with global partners in the critical minerals supply chain.
