The United States has denied allegations that it sought access to Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth during negotiations over a proposed US$367 million health-aid agreement, insisting the talks were strictly focused on public health.
A US official familiar with the discussions said Zimbabwe abruptly withdrew from weeks of technical negotiations without providing any explanation, despite raising no policy or political concerns during the process.
“No policy or political concerns were relayed to us,” the official, speaking off the record, said. “The government then notified us it was ceasing negotiations without stating why.”
The official emphasized that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) under discussion contained no provisions explicit or implicit related to Zimbabwe’s critical minerals. “This MoU is, and has always been, about the health of the Zimbabwean people,” the official said.
The draft agreement, intended to run over five years, would have provided $367 million in funding and aimed to preserve long-standing global health-data standards, including the sharing of anonymized, aggregated epidemiological data used to track disease trends and direct treatment resources under PEPFAR since 2006.
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The US Embassy in Harare confirmed the collapse of the deal last week. Ambassador Pamela Tremont warned that terminating the MoU would deprive Zimbabwean communities of significant health benefits, particularly the 1.2 million people currently receiving HIV treatment through US-supported programs.
“We now face the difficult and regrettable task of winding down our health assistance in Zimbabwe,” she said.
The breakdown traces back to a letter dated December 23 from Zimbabwe’s Secretary for Foreign Affairs, indicating that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had personally ordered the halt of negotiations.
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“Zimbabwe must discontinue any negotiation with the USA on the clearly lopsided MoU that blatantly compromises and undermines the sovereignty and independence of Zimbabwe,” the letter stated.
The development comes amid Washington’s push for a new series of bilateral health agreements under its America First framework, introduced following reductions in USAID operations during the Trump administration. At least 20 African countries, including Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda, have signed similar agreements with the United States.
US officials stressed that the MoU was part of long-term efforts to strengthen health systems and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations, and denied any connection between the health-aid discussions and Zimbabwe’s natural resources.
The collapse of the agreement marks a setback in US-Zimbabwe health cooperation, raising questions about the continuation of programs supporting HIV treatment, disease monitoring, and broader public-health initiatives across the country.
Relations between the United States and Zimbabwe have been strained for more than two decades, shaped by political tensions, sanctions and disagreements over governance and economic policy.
The United States has been one of Zimbabwe’s largest providers of humanitarian and health assistance, even as diplomatic relations have remained limited. Much of this support has been delivered through multilateral programmes and international development agencies rather than direct government-to-government cooperation.
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One of the most significant channels for U.S. assistance has been the global HIV/AIDS programme known as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Launched in 2003, the initiative has provided billions of dollars in funding for HIV treatment, prevention and healthcare systems across Africa, including Zimbabwe.
Through this programme and other health initiatives, the United States has supported Zimbabwe’s response to major public health challenges such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. International donors, including the U.S., have helped finance antiretroviral treatment programmes, laboratory systems and community health services.
Zimbabwe has long relied on external support to maintain its public health infrastructure, particularly during periods of economic crisis and fiscal constraints. International aid has therefore played a critical role in ensuring continued access to life-saving medicines and medical services.
At the same time, Zimbabwe is rich in mineral resources, making it a strategic player in global mining markets. The country holds significant deposits of lithium, platinum, gold, diamonds and chrome, minerals that are increasingly important for global industrial supply chains and the energy transition.
Zimbabwe has emerged in recent years as one of the world’s fastest-growing sources of lithium, a key material used in electric vehicle batteries. Several international mining companies have invested heavily in lithium projects across the country as global demand for battery minerals continues to rise.
Because of these resources, Zimbabwe’s mining sector has become central to the government’s economic strategy. Authorities have promoted policies aimed at attracting foreign investment while increasing domestic processing of minerals.
However, the sector has also been at the centre of political debates, including concerns about transparency, revenue management and the terms under which foreign investors gain access to natural resources.
Against this backdrop, allegations that international aid or diplomatic negotiations might involve discussions about access to mineral resources have occasionally surfaced in political discourse.
Officials in both the United States and Zimbabwe have generally rejected suggestions that humanitarian assistance is tied to mineral concessions or resource deals.
The United States has maintained that its health and humanitarian programmes in Zimbabwe are designed primarily to support public welfare, strengthen health systems and assist vulnerable populations rather than advance commercial interests.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe has continued to seek international partnerships and investment in its mining sector as it works to revive economic growth and increase export revenues.
The country’s vast mineral wealth, combined with ongoing geopolitical competition for critical resources, means that discussions involving aid, investment and natural resources often attract heightened political attention.
As global demand for strategic minerals such as lithium and platinum grows, Zimbabwe’s role in international supply chains is likely to remain a key factor in its economic and diplomatic relationships with major global powers.
