KEY POINTS
- U.S. halts foreign aid to Zimbabwe under Trump’s America First policy.
- Officials urge Zimbabwe to take responsibility for healthcare programs.
- HIV, malaria, and food security programs could face funding challenges.
The United States has urged Zimbabwe to take full responsibility for its health programs following the suspension of U.S. foreign assistance under Donald Trump’s America First agenda.
The U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe confirmed the halt in a statement, saying the move aligns with Trump’s Executive Order on Reevaluating and Realigning U.S. Foreign Aid.
For decades, the U.S. has been Zimbabwe’s largest provider of humanitarian and development aid, contributing over $5 billion since independence and more than $1 billion in the past three years alone.
Programs such as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), and the Feed the Future hunger initiative have played a crucial role in supporting Zimbabwe’s healthcare and food security.
Now, with all foreign assistance programs under review, the U.S. has advised Zimbabwe to step up its efforts in funding and managing its own healthcare services.
U.S. warns Zimbabwe to prioritize health sector
The U.S. mission emphasized that Zimbabwe must take its healthcare responsibilities seriously, particularly regarding HIV treatment, malaria prevention, and healthcare infrastructure.
“Zimbabwe has achieved the 95/95/95 HIV targets, but the government must now take full responsibility for funding antiretroviral treatment (ART) and ensuring clinics are staffed with nurses,” the statement read.
According to New Zimbabwe, the suspension of aid comes as part of a broader U.S. reassessment of foreign assistance programs. The suspension of all grants and State Department programs from USAID remains in place to let Secretary of State Marco Rubio conduct detailed examinations of their alignment with U.S. foreign policy objectives.
The current absence of international aid creates a special requirement for Zimbabwe to develop its national funds to support vital healthcare initiatives.
Health, food security programs in jeopardy
The halt in U.S. aid is expected to impact vital sectors in Zimbabwe, including healthcare, development, and food security programs.
Although USAID had been working to strengthen these programs, the Trump administration’s decision has put them on hold indefinitely. The Zimbabwean government will now have to find alternative funding to sustain these essential services.
Zimbabwe has not officially reacted to the suspension and the new pressure should prompt the government to shift funding from domestic programs toward critical service maintenance.
The outcome of United States-funded programs awaits future announcements since Trump administration officials review international assistance policies.
