Zimbabwe Rejects $350m US Health Deal Over Sovereignty Dispute

West Africa WeeklyFebruary 25, 20262 Mins read18

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Zimbabwe has formally withdrawn from negotiations on a proposed $350 million health funding agreement with the United States after President Emmerson Mnangagwa directed government officials to discontinue talks, calling the draft arrangement one-sided and a threat to the nation’s sovereignty and independence. The decision marks a significant shift in Harare’s engagement with Washington on health cooperation.

The negotiations, which had been underway throughout 2025, centre on a memorandum of understanding that would form the basis of future U.S. health support to Zimbabwe under its America First Global Health Strategy. The framework was intended to formalise how Washington would provide financial backing for Zimbabwe’s health sector, including public health programmes and capacity building.

In a letter dated December 23, 2025, addressed to senior officials in the ministries of finance and health, Zimbabwe’s Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Albert Chimbindi, communicated the President’s instructions to halt the process. The letter states that the proposed agreement was “clearly lopsided” and would “compromise and undermine the sovereignty and independence of Zimbabwe as a country.”

Government officials raised multiple concerns about specific provisions in the draft agreement. Among them was a clause that would have allowed the United States direct access to Zimbabwe’s national health data over an agreed period. Harare viewed this requirement as intrusive and beyond the scope of routine development cooperation. Officials also objected to elements of the proposal that linked health cooperation to access to Zimbabwe’s strategic mineral resources, which the government saw as an overreach into sectors critical to national interest.

Harare’s decision also reflects broader unease about committing to a bilateral health framework outside established multilateral institutions. Zimbabwe emphasised its commitment to multilateralism, especially in light of Washington’s previous withdrawal from the World Health Organization, and said that entering into a separate bilateral system could send the wrong signal about the global health order.

The rejection comes at a time when Zimbabwe’s health sector is under pressure and external support has already been shifting. In recent years, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) programmes have played a significant role in financing treatment for HIV and supporting rural clinics and health worker training. However, funding from the U.S. has declined as part of broader aid cuts and strategic realignments, leaving questions about the sustainability of some essential services.

At least 14 other African countries have signed similar agreements with the United States under the same global health strategy, as Washington expands its health diplomacy across the continent. Zimbabwe’s choice not to participate sets it apart from many of its neighbours and signals a strong stance on protecting national policy autonomy.

By stepping away from the proposed deal, Zimbabwe’s government is asserting that cooperation must respect national laws, data privacy, and control over strategic sectors. The broader implications for Zimbabwe’s health system and its relationship with international partners remain to be seen, but the decision underscores how questions of sovereignty and national interest are increasingly shaping how African states navigate foreign assistance.

Officials in Washington had not issued a response to the developments at the time of reporting.