Zambia delays US deals on minerals and data | Story

The government in Lusaka wants cooperation, not aid, because it is rejecting US funding due to concerns about autonomy.

The Zambian government has suspended negotiations with the United States over billions of dollars in health and mining projects.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe said on Monday that the agreements that had been put in place had been put on hold because of Washington’s “unacceptable” actions and demands for custom treatment.

The health agreement, in which the US is providing 2 billion dollars over the next five years, is being suspended because of “the inclusion of terms that the Zambian government considers unacceptable,” he said. In particular, Zambia said it wanted the sharing of data to violate “citizens’ rights”.

Another critical mineral deal has been delayed by US insistence that its industry receive special treatment. Zambia is the second largest copper producer in Africa and has significant mineral reserves.

Haimbe said Zambia is also concerned about the “merger of the two agreements,” while the US is finalizing a health agreement based on the mineral agreement.

The Zambian government has been consistent in saying that the agreements should be considered separately according to their capabilities, he said.

Last week, the outgoing US Ambassador to Lusaka, Michael Gonzales, spoke of concerns about anti-corruption efforts in Zambia and issues related to arrangements related to US aid to the health sector, according to officials cited by Anadolu Agency.

Haimbe denied the allegations, saying that the relationship between Lusaka and Washington is not based on aid but on a strong and growing partnership based on cooperation.

Health advocates have warned that the proposed health partnership tied the money to mining opportunities and poses a risk to data sharing, but the Zambian government has previously said that parts of it are not in line with the country’s interests.

A number of African countries have signed memorandums of understanding that represent the US approach to foreign aid under the leadership of President Donald Trump.

However, Zambia now joins Ghana and Zimbabwe in rejecting Washington’s demands, with concerns particularly over data sharing.