Zimbabwe explains decision to decline US$367 million US health funding agreement

By Staff Reporter

The Government of Zimbabwe has outlined the reasons behind its decision to decline a proposed US$367 million health funding agreement with the United States, saying the move was necessary to safeguard national sovereignty, protect sensitive health data, and ensure fair and equitable partnerships.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Secretary Nick Mangwana said the decision followed a directive issued by President Emmerson Mnangagwa after an inter-ministerial review of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Mangwana said while Zimbabwe appreciates the longstanding support it has received from the United States, particularly in HIV, tuberculosis and malaria programmes, the government concluded that the specific terms of the proposed agreement did not meet the country’s requirements for mutual respect, transparency and reciprocal benefit.

“As the government responsible for the welfare of our citizens and the stewardship of our nation’s future, it is incumbent upon us to provide clarity on the rationale behind this decision,” Mangwana said.

He explained that the proposed arrangement required Zimbabwe to provide extensive access to sensitive national health data, including pathogen samples and epidemiological information, without clear guarantees that Zimbabwe would benefit from any resulting medical innovations such as vaccines, diagnostics or treatments.

Mangwana said the government considered it essential to ensure that any sharing of biological resources and health data would be conducted under conditions that protect Zimbabwe’s long-term national interests and ensure equitable access to future medical developments.

He also noted that Zimbabwe remains committed to multilateral global health frameworks, particularly the World Health Organisation’s Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, which seeks to ensure fair and equitable access to benefits arising from shared health data.

Zimbabwe has been actively advocating for African countries to engage in global health partnerships through multilateral mechanisms that promote fairness and collective benefit.

The United States Embassy in Harare confirmed that the proposed agreement would have provided funding over five years to support HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, tuberculosis and malaria programmes, as well as maternal and child health services and disease outbreak preparedness.

Since 2006, the United States has contributed more than US$1.9 billion towards Zimbabwe’s health sector, supporting national efforts to combat major diseases and strengthen public health systems.

In response to the withdrawal of the proposed funding, Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora said Zimbabwe is strengthening domestic health financing mechanisms to ensure continuity of essential services.

He said the government is accelerating implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme and reinforcing existing funding sources such as the AIDS Levy, which has supported HIV and AIDS programmes for more than two decades.

Mombeshora said the developments present an opportunity for Zimbabwe to further enhance domestic resource mobilisation and build a more self-reliant and sustainable health system.

Zimbabwe remains committed to protecting public health and ensuring continued access to treatment and care for citizens while pursuing international partnerships that respect national sovereignty and deliver mutual benefit.