Zimbabwe Pushes Back as Mnangagwa Blocks US Health Funding Framework

Takudzwa Karowangoro

Zimbabwe has formally pulled out of talks on a proposed US$350 million health-financing deal after President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa ordered an immediate suspension of the negotiations, citing serious concerns over national sovereignty.

The decision was communicated in a letter dated December 23, authored by Ambassador A.R. Chimbindi, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and addressed to senior officials in the finance and health ministries. The move effectively ends months of engagement between Harare and the United States under Washington’s America First Global Health Strategy, which was being positioned as a new framework for future assistance.

Zimbabwean authorities took issue with provisions in the draft memorandum of understanding that would have granted the US long-term access to the country’s health data. Officials argued that such access posed risks to sensitive population-level information and amounted to undue external intrusion.

In the letter, Chimbindi stated that the President had directed government to immediately abandon discussions on what was described as a heavily skewed agreement that “compromises and undermines the sovereignty and independence of Zimbabwe.”

Negotiators were also alarmed by proposals to link Zimbabwe’s critical minerals sector to the health funding arrangement. Government advisers warned that such an inclusion could allow Washington indirect leverage over strategic economic sectors unrelated to public health but vital to Zimbabwe’s long-term development prospects.

While the draft agreement sparked resistance in Harare, the United States has made progress elsewhere, with more than a dozen African countries reportedly signing similar health cooperation deals.

By the time of publication, the US Embassy in Harare had not issued a response to requests for comment.

Government officials framed Zimbabwe’s withdrawal as a principled position on global health governance. They argued that entering into a bilateral health framework with Washington would be inconsistent with the country’s commitment to multilateral cooperation, especially given the US decision to distance itself from the World Health Organization during the administration of Donald Trump.

Officials maintained that endorsing a parallel health architecture would effectively legitimise a shift they believe weakened the global health system.

Zimbabwe’s stance, however, comes at a sensitive time. As the country disengages from Washington’s new funding model, it also faces the possibility of reduced American humanitarian support.

With the scaling down of USAID operations and internal US State Department signals pointing to an orderly withdrawal from several African countries, Zimbabwe risks losing long-standing assistance for HIV treatment, nutrition initiatives, and other essential programmes previously classified as lifesaving.