Zambia Rejects US' Bid to Link Health Aid to Critical Minerals Access
19:46 04.05.2026 (Updated: 20:40 04.05.2026)
CC0 / Nick Fewings /
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Zambia Rejects US' Bid to Link Health Aid to Critical Minerals Access
The US offered up to $2 billion over five years in a proposed health agreement, but some data-sharing terms would violate Zambians' privacy, Zambia's Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe said.
"A further concern by the Zambian Government is the coupling of the proposed agreements and frameworks to one another such that the conclusion of the critical minerals agreement is made conditional to the conclusion of the Health MOU, for instance," the Zambian Foreign Ministry statement said.
Zambia is reluctant to accept preferential treatment for US companies in the minerals pact, he added.
"In this respect, the Zambian Government has been consistent that the agreements must be considered separately on their respective merits and in good faith," the statement clarified.
Earlier, Ghana and Zimbabwe rejected similar agreements with the US
The US offered up to $2 billion over five years in a proposed health agreement, but some data-sharing terms would violate Zambians' privacy, Zambia's Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe said.
"A further concern by the Zambian Government is the coupling of the proposed agreements and frameworks to one another such that the conclusion of the critical minerals agreement is made conditional to the conclusion of the Health MOU, for instance," the Zambian Foreign Ministry statement said.
Zambia is reluctant to accept preferential treatment for US companies in the minerals pact, he added.
"In this respect, the Zambian Government has been consistent that the agreements must be considered separately on their respective merits and in good faith," the statement clarified.
Earlier, Ghana and Zimbabwe rejected similar agreements with the US
