Zambia is delaying multi-billion dollar agreements with the United States, having suspended negotiations on proposals in healthcare and critical minerals. The Zambian government deems Washington’s conditions “unacceptable” and objects to demands for preferential treatment.
Zambian Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe stated on Monday that negotiations on the proposed agreements have stalled. One of these, a healthcare agreement, was set to provide up to $2 billion over the next five years. However, it was suspended due to the inclusion of conditions Zambia considers unacceptable, specifically demands for data sharing, which the government believes would violate “citizens’ rights.”
A separate agreement concerning critical minerals is also being delayed because of US insistence that its companies receive preferential treatment. Zambia is Africa’s second-leading copper producer and possesses significant reserves of other minerals.
Why Is Zambia Concerned About US Conditions?
Mulambo Haimbe noted that Zambia is concerned about the “tying of the two agreements,” as the US is making the healthcare deal contingent on the minerals agreement.
The Zambian government has consistently maintained its position that the agreements should be considered separately, based on their respective merits.
Source: Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
