Zambia has pushed back against a U.S. proposal to tie billions of dollars in health funding to access to critical minerals, saying concerns over data privacy and investment terms have stalled negotiations between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe said on Monday that Lusaka opposed linking two separate agreements — one on health cooperation and another on critical minerals — arguing that each should be assessed independently.
The United States had offered up to US$2 billion in health sector support over five years under a proposed agreement, Haimbe said, but provisions on data sharing raised concerns about potential violations of citizens’ privacy rights.
“A further concern is the coupling of the proposed agreements… such that the conclusion of the critical minerals agreement is made conditional to the conclusion of the Health MOU,” Haimbe said in a statement.
He did not specify the exact nature of the health data being requested by Washington.
Zambia also expressed reservations about the proposed critical minerals deal, citing provisions that would grant preferential treatment to U.S. companies — a condition the government views as inconsistent with its national interest.
The U.S. State Department has declined to disclose details of the ongoing bilateral negotiations.
The dispute highlights growing tensions over a new U.S. approach to foreign assistance, which seeks to link development financing more closely with strategic economic interests, including access to key resources such as copper and cobalt — both of which Zambia produces in significant quantities.
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Health policy advocates have previously warned that the proposed arrangement could create risks around sensitive data sharing while effectively tying public health funding to mining concessions.
Zambia had until now offered limited public explanation for its reluctance, stating only that elements of the agreements did not align with national priorities.
The latest comments come in response to criticism from outgoing U.S. ambassador Michael Gonzales, who accused Lusaka of failing to engage meaningfully on the health funding proposal — an assertion the Zambian government has rejected.
The standoff reflects a broader unease among African nations over similar agreements. Countries including Ghana and Zimbabwe have also declined to sign comparable memorandums of understanding, citing concerns over data governance and sovereignty.
Analysts say the outcome of the talks could shape how African governments balance immediate development financing needs with long-term control over strategic resources and sensitive national data.
