The United States has announced a significant reduction in its annual aid to Zambia, cutting $50 million allocated for medications and medical supplies. This decision follows what the U.S. describes as inadequate action by the Zambian government to address systematic theft of these products.
U.S. Ambassador to Zambia Michael Gonzales stated, "It is with a heavy heart that I must announce that the United States is cutting $50 million – that’s 1.4 billion kwacha – in annual aid provided to Zambia for medications and medical supplies." He emphasized the longstanding partnership between the two nations, noting that the U.S. has invested approximately $600 million annually toward economic development and health improvements in Zambia.
The ambassador highlighted achievements such as reversing the AIDS epidemic and reducing deaths from malaria and tuberculosis by over 75% due to joint efforts between the countries. However, he expressed disappointment over findings of systemic theft of life-saving medicines intended for free distribution to Zambians.
Since discovering this issue in late 2021, the U.S. informed Zambian authorities and conducted assessments across pharmacies in Zambia. These investigations revealed that 95% of pharmacies selling products similar to those donated by the U.S. were involved in selling stolen goods, with nearly half being items provided by American aid.
Ambassador Gonzales reported bringing these concerns to senior Zambian officials multiple times since April 2024 but noted insufficient action taken against high-level culprits responsible for thefts. He said, "I regret that to date, the government’s actions have fallen drastically short of demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding U.S. assistance."
Despite ongoing discussions with Zambian officials, little progress was made, leading to this difficult decision by the U.S., which will reduce its contribution significantly while still offering technical support until January 2026.
The ambassador clarified that this cut is separate from any broader review of foreign assistance funding under consideration by the Trump Administration and reiterated America's commitment to supporting Zambia's future development without enabling corruption or mismanagement.