Zimbabwe has declined a proposed US$ 367 million health funding agreement from the United States, citing concerns over data access and benefit-sharing provisions that Harare described as unequal.
- •Details of the decision emerged after a government memo from December was leaked, indicating that President Emmerson Mnangagwa viewed the draft arrangement as “lopsided.”
- •In a statement following the leak, US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Pamela Tremont confirmed that Washington would begin winding down health assistance in the country.
- •Zimbabwe's government spokesperson Nick Mangwana said authorities were concerned that while the country would provide access to sensitive biological resources, there were no firm guarantees that it would benefit from any resulting vaccines, diagnostics or treatments.
Dispute Over Biological Samples and Data
At the centre of the disagreement were provisions requiring Zimbabwe to share biological samples and related health data for research purposes.
Officials argued that the arrangement lacked reciprocal safeguards to ensure equitable access to medical innovations. They also referenced frameworks under the World Health Organization (WHO) that promote pathogen access and benefit-sharing during global health emergencies, suggesting bilateral deals should reflect similar principles.
The proposed agreement comes amid broader changes in US foreign assistance.
Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has scaled back foreign aid and closed the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), arguing that direct government-to-government arrangements improve accountability. The US embassy says 16 African countries have signed new health agreements collectively valued at more than US$ 18 billion under the revised approach.
The Zimbabwe College of Public Health Physicians has said it understood the government’s concerns over data governance but urged continued negotiations.
