Zambia finalizes $1.5B US health pact after stripping out mineral and data clauses
Zambia and the United States signed a five-year health financing agreement in Lusaka, ending months of public dispute over data-sharing and resource access. The deal secures approximately $1.5 billion in US funding, with Zambia contributing additional funds, for a combined package of roughly $3.6 billion between 2026 and 2030. The agreement replaces previous aid flows through USAID, which was closed by President Donald Trump in 2025. Health Minister Roma Chilengi confirmed that clauses requiring the transfer of biological specimens and individual patient records were removed, limiting data exchange to program monitoring. The funding will support HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and maternal health initiatives, with US contributions expected to decline as Zambia increases domestic spending.