The United States (U.S) has announced plans to end its health aid program in Zimbabwe after Harare withdrew from talks on a bilateral deal with Washington.
In a press release dated February 24, the U.S. Embassy in Harare described the decision as regrettable, noting that about 1.2 million people currently receive HIV treatment through U.S.-supported programs.
“We will now turn to the difficult and regrettable task of winding down our health assistance in Zimbabwe. The Government of Zimbabwe has assured us it is prepared to sustain the fight against HIV/AIDS, and we wish them well,” said Pamela.
Despite Harare’s exit from the deal, US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Pamela Tremont argued that similar health collaboration agreements have been signed with 16 African countries, totaling over $18.3 billion in combined funding.
“Sixteen African countries have so far signed health collaboration MOUs with the United States, which represents over $18.3 billion in new health funding, including more than $11.2 billion in U.S. assistance alongside $7.1 billion in co-investment from recipient countries.”
The five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) would have supported key health programs, including HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, and preparedness for disease outbreaks.
Zimbabwe Withdraws from US Health Deal
Zimbabwe rejected a proposed health funding agreement with the United States after President Emmerson Mnangagwa ordered an end to negotiations over what Harare described as a deal compromising national sovereignty.
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Washington had presented the memorandum of understanding as the basis for future health assistance under its America First Global Health Strategy.
However, Zimbabwean officials said several provisions were unacceptable.
Among their concerns was a US request for direct access to Zimbabwe’s health data for a specified period, a provision Harare viewed as excessive and intrusive, and access to Zimbabwe’s critical mineral resources, which formed part of the broader arrangement, further raising objections.
The officials argued that participating in the bilateral health framework with Washington would contradict the country’s commitment to multilateral cooperation, following the US withdrawal from the World Health Organization.
High Court Suspends Kenya -US Health Deal
The High Court of Kenya previously suspended a health funding agreement worth more than $1.6 billion that Kenya had signed with the United States, pending the hearing of a case filed by the Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) and local Senator Okiya Omtatah.
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COFEK argued that the agreement contravenes Kenya’s Data Protection Act, Digital Health Act, Health Act, and new data regulations that protect citizens’ health data.
Meanwhile, Omtatah petitioned the court to halt the agreement on the grounds that it undermines the principles of public participation, parliamentary oversight, and binds Kenya to terms that could strain the country’s budget.
The five-year agreement signed in Washington committed the US to providing up to $1.6 billion between 2026 and 2030, mainly for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria prevention; maternal and child health; and outbreak surveillance and response.
Kenya has committed to increasing domestic health spending by $850 million over the five years, with incremental annual increases from $77,5 million (10 billion Kenyan shillings) in 2026 to $387,7 million in 2030.
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