A coalition of civil society organisations in Zambia has called on the government to halt the signing of a proposed health aid agreement with the United States pending wider public consultation and parliamentary oversight.
The coalition said the Memorandum of Understanding between the Zambian government and the United States should not proceed without full disclosure of its contents.
According to the organisations, while the United States has played a critical role in supporting Zambia’s health sector—including providing antiretroviral treatment to about 1.3 million people—such assistance must not be tied to negotiations involving access to Zambia’s critical minerals or national health data.
Their concerns follow reports indicating that the proposed agreement could involve approximately US$1 billion in health sector support over five years, covering HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, vaccines, maternal and child health, and pandemic surveillance.
The coalition further raised concerns about transparency, potential long-term access to health data and biological samples, and financing commitments that could affect Zambia’s fiscal stability.
They have since urged the government to release the full draft agreement, ensure that health support remains unconditional, and safeguard citizens’ data in line with national data protection laws.
