The United States has announced it will begin winding down health assistance to Zimbabwe after the country withdrew from negotiations on a proposed bilateral health Memorandum of Understanding valued at $367 million over five years.
The proposed agreement was designed to support HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, tuberculosis and malaria control, maternal and child health services, and disease outbreak preparedness.
It would have marked the largest single health investment in Zimbabwe by any international partner.
Pamela Tremont, the US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, expressed regret over the development, noting the potential impact on vulnerable populations.
“We believe this collaboration would have delivered extraordinary benefits for Zimbabwean communities—especially the 1.2 million men, women, and children currently receiving HIV treatment through U.S.-supported programs,” she said.
“We will now turn to the difficult and regrettable task of winding down our health assistance in Zimbabwe.”
The Memorandum of Understanding was structured under a co-funding framework requiring Zimbabwe to gradually increase domestic health financing alongside U.S. support. The arrangement was intended to strengthen sustainability and shared accountability.
Since 2006, the United States has provided more than $1.9 billion in health assistance to Zimbabwe, contributing to progress toward the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS) 95-95-95 targets, which aim to ensure that 95 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed receive treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment achieve viral suppression.
Ambassador Tremont underscored the principle of accountability in bilateral health partnerships.
“The United States has a responsibility to American taxpayers to invest their resources where mutual accountability, transparency, and shared commitment are assured. These MOUs set a higher standard for bilateral health cooperation—one that prioritizes sustainability, measurable outcomes, and shared ownership of results. The Government of Zimbabwe has assured us it is prepared to sustain the fight against HIV/AIDS, and we wish them well,” she said.
According to U.S. officials, 16 African nations have signed similar health collaboration agreements with Washington, representing more than $18.3 billion in new health funding commitments, including $11.2 billion in US support and $7.1 billion in co-investment from partner countries.