The United States (US) Department of State is reportedly considering withholding lifesaving Human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) assistance to Zambia as a negotiating tactic to secure greater access to the country’s critical minerals.
According to The New York Times, the proposal is contained in a draft memo prepared for US Secretary of State Marco Rubio by the department’s Africa Bureau.
The report suggests Washington is aiming to counter China’s influence and access to Zambia’s mineral resources.
Earlier, Zimbabwe rejected a similar health deal with the US over demands for sensitive biological data.
The report further indicates that the Trump administration has signed bilateral health agreements worth nearly $20 billion with at least 18 African countries, including Lesotho and Botswana.
In February, the Zambian government pushed back on elements of a proposed Memorandum of Understanding, which included $1 billion in US funding over five years to combat HIV and malaria, alongside a required $340 million contribution from Zambia.
Zambia maintained that the agreement should remain focused on health priorities, while expressing openness to engagements aligned with its national interests.
The reports says US would secure its priorities by demonstrating a willingness to publicly withdraw support from Zambia on a massive scale.
–SABC/ChannelAfrica–
