The Government of Zimbabwe has directed officials to discontinue negotiations with the United States on a proposed health cooperation agreement, citing concerns over national sovereignty.

In a memorandum dated 23 December 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said discussions had been underway between the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, and the United States Embassy in Harare regarding a Memorandum of Understanding under the America First Global Health Strategy.

The memorandum, signed by Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ambassador Albert Chimbindi, stated that the United States had proposed the MoU as a framework through which Washington would provide health support to Zimbabwe under specified terms and conditions.

However, the ministry said President Emmerson Mnangagwa had ordered that negotiations be stopped.

“Please be advised that the President, His Excellency Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, has directed that Zimbabwe must discontinue any negotiation with the USA, on the clearly lop-sided MoU that blatantly compromises and undermines the sovereignty and independence of Zimbabwe as a country,” the memorandum reads.

The directive was addressed to Secretary for Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion George Guvamatanga and Secretary for Health and Child Care Aspect Maunganidze.

Copies of the memorandum were also sent to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Amon Murwira and Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya.

According to the memorandum, the proposed agreement was intended to guide future health assistance from the United States to Zimbabwe, although details of the specific support were not outlined.

Social and political commentator Derek Goto said two elements of the proposed agreement reportedly raised serious concern among officials.

He said the agreement sought direct access to Zimbabwe’s health data for a defined period — something authorities viewed as excessive and potentially intrusive.

Goto added that the United States had also reportedly pushed for access to Zimbabwe’s critical mineral resources within the broader framework of the arrangement.

Zimbabwe also objected on principle to entering a bilateral health arrangement with a country that had withdrawn from the World Health Organization, arguing that such a move could weaken multilateral global health governance.

From a political science perspective, Goto said the decision reflects broader tensions between developed and developing nations when financial assistance is tied to strategic concessions.

“When financial assistance is bundled with strategic concessions, it ceases to be purely developmental and begins to resemble leverage,” he said.

Goto argued that if a partner state seeks mineral access or strategic privileges, such arrangements should be negotiated transparently as commercial or strategic agreements rather than embedded within development assistance.

He said President Mnangagwa’s position could be interpreted not as opposition to cooperation but as a call for clarity and fairness in development partnerships.

Goto also suggested that Zimbabwe’s approach reflects a broader trend among developing countries seeking greater control over their natural resources.

He noted that some countries in the Global South have found partnerships with China politically acceptable because agreements are often framed openly as infrastructure, credit or investment transactions rather than aid programmes.

According to Goto, Zimbabwe’s decision signals an effort to use its mineral wealth to finance national priorities, including strengthening the health sector.

He said cooperation with international partners remains important but should be based on transparency, reciprocity and respect for national sovereignty.

“In rejecting the MoU, Zimbabwe is asserting a principle that development partnerships must be transparent, reciprocal and sovereign,” Goto said.