The United States has announced it will cut $50 million in annual assistance to Zambia’s health sector due to the government’s failure to curb what it described as “systemic theft” of life-saving medicines and medical supplies intended for free public distribution.
US ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gonzales, made the announcement in a statement on Thursday, noting that the decision was unrelated to the broader review of US foreign aid currently underway by President Donald Trump’s administration.
“I am disappointed to share publicly today that since 2021 we have uncovered systemic theft of life-saving medicines and other products that were intended for free for the Zambian public,” Gonzales said, pointing to stolen supplies that included antiretroviral drugs used in the treatment of HIV.
Zambia’s Ministry of Health, responding to the US concerns, admitted that the recurring theft of medical supplies has been a “persistent challenge” even before 2021. The ministry said President Hakainde Hichilema had ordered an independent forensic audit of the country’s entire medicines supply chain upon learning of the issue.
The ministry added that several officials implicated in the theft had either been suspended or dismissed, while others had been arrested and are expected to stand trial.
Despite the setbacks, the health ministry sought to reassure the public, stating: “Zambia currently maintains sufficient stocks of essential medicines, including antiretroviral, antimalarial, and other critical drugs, with no immediate risk of shortages.”
Ambassador Gonzales also stated that he had advised Washington to continue supplying essential medicines and health products to Zambia through to January 2026, giving the government time to create a sustainable transition strategy. Beyond that date, the US will continue to provide technical and logistical support to maintain humanitarian health efforts and combat drug resistance and disease spread.