US halts 44 million euros aid to Zambia over stolen medications

• The US has suspended 44 million euros in aid to Zambia.
• The reason is the systematic theft of US-funded medications.
• The Zambian government has not taken steps to resolve the problem.

The United States has decided to suspend its annual financial aid to Zambia, which amounted to 44 million euros. This decision is a result of the systematic theft of medications and medical supplies, which were supposed to be provided free of charge to the people of Zambia. The US Ambassador in Lusaka, Michael Gonzales, announced this at a press conference.

Over the past year, the US has been urging the Zambian government to take concrete actions in response to the theft of medications. Despite numerous appeals, the government did not respond to these demands. An investigation conducted by the Americans revealed that between 2021 and 2023, over 2,000 Zambian pharmacies sold medications which were funded by US aid.

During the investigation it was found that as much as 95% of the inspected pharmacies sold stolen products. Ambassador Gonzales emphasised that about one in three kwacha spent on public health in Zambia comes from the United States. The US has been providing about 113 million euros annually for the purchase of medications for HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis.

"We are no longer willing to underwrite the personal enrichment of fraudsters or the corrupt when patients go without or have to buy life-saving medications that we have provided for free," said Ambassador Gonzales. Similar problems with medication theft also occurred in Liberia, where 90% of pharmacies sold medications supplied under free aid by USAID.

The aid cuts to Zambia are independent of the freeze on global health programmes announced by US President Donald Trump in January. The situation in Zambia highlights the importance of monitoring and controlling aid funds to ensure they reach those in need.