Harare – The Government of Zimbabwe has communicated its decision to withdraw from negotiations on a proposed bilateral health Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United States.
Zimbabwe withdrew from negotiations on a proposed bilateral health MoU with the U.S., citing concerns that the agreement undermines national sovereignty and independence, reports zimlive.com.
According to healthtimes.co.zw Harare objected to clauses allowing U.S. access to health data, viewed as intelligence overreach, and linkages to critical minerals.
On Wednesday, 25 February 2026, the U.S. said the MOU would have provided $367 million over five years to support Zimbabwe’s priority health programs, including HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, and disease outbreak preparedness.
“We believe this collaboration would have delivered extraordinary benefits for Zimbabwean communities— especially the 1.2 million men, women, and children currently receiving HIV treatment through U.S.-supported programs,” said U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe Pamela Tremont.
“We will now turn to the difficult and regrettable task of winding down our health assistance in Zimbabwe.”
The proposed MOU represented the largest potential health investment in Zimbabwe by any international funder and was built on a co-funding model designed to ensure sustainability and a path toward self-reliance.
The MOU asked Zimbabwe to gradually increase its own health funding alongside U.S. support, building on more than $1.9 billion in U.S. health support to Zimbabwe since 2006 that is directly responsible for Zimbabwe reaching the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals.
Sixteen African countries have so far signed health collaboration MOUs with the United States, which represents over $18.3 billion in new health funding including more than $11.2 billion in U.S. assistance alongside $7.1 billion in co-investment from recipient countries.
“The United States has a responsibility to American taxpayers to invest their resources where mutual accountability, transparency, and shared commitment are assured,” Ambassador Tremont noted.
“These MOUs set a higher standard for bilateral health cooperation—one that prioritises sustainability, measurable outcomes, and shared ownership of results.
“The Government of Zimbabwe has assured us it is prepared to sustain the fight against HIV/AIDS, and we wish them well.”
According to a report by newzimbabwe.com, President Emmerson Mnangagwa issued a directive on 23 December 2025, ordering the cessation of talks on the $350-367 million deal, which aimed to fund programs for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other health priorities over five years.
