Zambia rebukes envoys after US goes public with medical aid cut
Zambia's foreign minister has criticised a lack of diplomacy from envoys after the US ambassador used a press conference to announce that Washington was cutting medical aid to the southern African country due to the "systemic theft" of donated medication.
The US ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gonzales, last week told a media briefing that Washington would cut $50 million (€45 million) in annual aid to the nation's health sector because the state had failed to stop the theft of life-saving drugs provided by the US.
An investigation of some 2,000 pharmacies in Zambia from 2021 to 2023 found nearly half of them were selling medicines and products paid for by US aid funds, Gonzales said.
Zambia had failed to do enough to address the alleged corruption after the US informed the government of the theft scandal in April last year, according to Gonzales, who said he decided to speak to the press after several unproductive meetings with local officials.
In a thinly-veiled rebuke that did not mention anyone by name, Mulambo Haimbe — the Zambian foreign minister — bemoaned an "increasing tendency" by envoys to ignore diplomatic channels, and said this risked jeopardising the "spirit of mutual respect".
Communicating with the government through the press constituted interference and violated diplomatic conventions, Haimbe said.
"We remain open to addressing any matters of concern through appropriate diplomatic channels," he added.
Following Gonzales' press conference last week, Zambian Health Minister Elijah Muchima said the government acknowledged the concerns of the US and was committed to resolving the "unfortunate issue".
Muchima reassured the public last week that there was "no immediate risk of shortages" due to the US funding cut because the nation had sufficient stocks of all medications.
On Monday, Zambia's Home Affairs Minister Jacob Mwiimbu said about 75 people have been arrested following raids on at least 400 health facilities over the alleged corruption.
The US gives Zambia $128 million (€115 million) a year for drugs, medical supplies and other support for its health sector. Gonzales said the cuts would affect medications for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, which are three critical diseases affecting Zambians.
Gonzales said he had recommended to Washington that the US continue to procure and deliver life-saving medicines and supplies to Zambia until January 2026 to provide time for the government to develop a transition plan.
The US ambassador said the reduction in funding was "wholly separate" from the foreign aid freeze announced by the administration of US President Donald Trump in January.
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