Zimbabwe defends rejection of US$367m US health funding

The Government has defended its decision to reject a US$367 million health funding package from the United States, saying the offer contained conditions that it considered unacceptable and potentially harmful to Zimbabwean citizens.

Information Minister Dr Zhemu Soda made the remarks in Parliament on Wednesday while responding to questions from legislators who sought an explanation for the decision amid persistent challenges in the country's health sector.

Mbizo Member of Parliament Corban Madzivanyika questioned why the Government had turned down the funding despite the pressing need for resources to strengthen healthcare services.

"...the Government of Zimbabwe rejected US$367 million from the American Government. I am saying, why did we reject those funds when we are still struggling on issues to do with health," Madzivanyika asked.

Responding on behalf of the Government, Dr Soda said the funding package was tied to conditions that Zimbabwe was unwilling to accept.

"There were some conditions attached to the offer which we did not like. One of the conditions was that we were supposed to provide biological samples for research that was supposed to be undertaken in America as a condition for the money that was supposed to be given to us," he said.

"We were also supposed to provide biological data on some people here in Zimbabwe that they needed, again as a condition for the money that was supposed to be given to Zimbabwe."

Dr Soda further claimed that the proposed arrangement stated that vaccines developed from the research would not be made available to Zimbabwe.

"However, they were going to produce some vaccines for different diseases and ailments, and the vaccines were not going to be shared with the Government of Zimbabwe. This is what they indicated to us, and, as the Government, we felt we could not put the lives of our people at risk because we did not know the intention."

He said the Government decided to reject the funding despite the country's healthcare needs because protecting citizens remained its priority.

"As much as we required the money, we could not do that at the expense of the citizens of Zimbabwe," Dr Soda said.

"So, all we did was protect our citizens by not taking the money and by putting lives first. If we are to resume the discussions, these conditions must be removed first."

The issue was also raised by Chiredzi Member of Parliament Blessing Makumire, who questioned the rationale behind declining the assistance given the challenges facing Zimbabwe's public health system.

The Government maintains that while it remains open to engagement with international partners, any future funding arrangement must be free of conditions it considers inconsistent with the country's national interests and the protection of its citizens.