Zambia has accused the United States of linking a $2 billion health assistance deal to access to its critical minerals, escalating tensions over the Trump administration's transactional approach to foreign aid. Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe on Monday described allegations of corruption by outgoing US Ambassador Michael Gonzales as “mischievous” and “undiplomatic.”
Haimbe said negotiations stalled over “unacceptable” data-sharing demands that violated citizens’ privacy rights, and US insistence on preferential treatment for American companies regarding Zambia’s critical minerals. He stressed that Zambians must have a say in how their minerals are used, and no strategic partner should be treated preferentially.
The US has been seeking to challenge China’s dominance in Zambia and across Africa, where minerals are vital for green energy technologies. The Trump administration is reshaping aid into transactional agreements, tying funding to conditions including commercial provisions, disease surveillance, and pathogen sharing.
Similar deals have faced resistance elsewhere: Ghana rejected a proposal over data privacy concerns, Zimbabwe walked away from a $367 million package, and Kenya’s $2.5 billion agreement is on hold after a court challenge. Critics warn the data-sharing demands largely benefit Washington.
The US Embassy in Zambia did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The new approach replaces decades of engagement through USAID and PEPFAR, with about 30 countries, many in Africa, having signed agreements since late last year.
