On Thursday, the United States announced a reduction of $50 million in annual aid to Zambia, citing what it termed the ‘systemic theft’ of donated pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.
Ambassador Michael Gonzales stated that this ‘difficult’ decision followed multiple warnings to the Zambian government regarding the need to protect essential medicines, including those critical for treating malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis.
In 2021, the US uncovered those medications intended for free distribution to Zambians were being misappropriated and sold by pharmacies nationwide.
An investigation conducted from 2021 to 2023 revealed that nearly half of the 2,000 pharmacies examined were selling medicines funded by US aid.
Gonzales expressed disappointment over the Zambian government’s inadequate response to the corruption issue after being alerted to the theft scandal last year, emphasizing that the US would no longer support the ‘personal enrichment of fraudsters’ with taxpayer dollars.
The US embassy noted that its aid constitutes about one-third of Zambia’s public health expenditure.
The Zambian government did not provide an immediate response to the announcement. These funding cuts are distinct from a wider review of foreign aid by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Gonzales suggested that the US begin implementing the aid reductions in January of the following year to allow Zambia time to arrange new procurement of essential medications.
