HEALTH MINISTER CLARIFIES CONTENT OF ZAMBIA-U.S. HEALTH MOU AS SIGNING SET FOR THURSDAY By Joseph Kaputula Health Minister Professor Roma Chilengi has clarified that there was no mention or condition of a critical minerals agreement in the signing of the health compact Memorandum of Understanding-MoU-with the United States government, which is expected to support Zambia […]

HEALTH MINISTER CLARIFIES CONTENT OF ZAMBIA-U.S. HEALTH MOU AS SIGNING SET FOR THURSDAY

By Joseph Kaputula

Health Minister Professor Roma Chilengi has clarified that there was no mention or condition of a critical minerals agreement in the signing of the health compact Memorandum of Understanding-MoU-with the United States government, which is expected to support Zambia over the next five years.

Among the concerns earlier raised by stakeholders over the MOU, now expected to be signed on Thursday this week following a lengthy review process, were claims of a critical minerals agreement granting preferential access to U.S. companies for copper and cobalt reserves and demands for long-term health and pathogen data sharing.

Addressing the media in Lusaka this morning, Professor Chilengi said at no point did the Ministry of Health see an MoU that speaks to critical minerals during the review process, adding that there was no mention at all of any other MoU linked to critical minerals.

Professor Chilengi noted that the contentious issues were around specimen sharing, data protection and the duration of the MoU, which have since been duly reviewed and adjusted.

And Professor Chilengi revealed that the joint contribution under the agreement will result in the mobilization of a funding envelope amounting to $3.6 billion, with the U.S. government contributing $1.5 billion while the Zambian government will provide the balance.

On calls for the MoU to be made public, professor Chilengi said it has not been the practice to make public any MoU signed between government and other institutions, and that anyone with specific concerns could engage the ministry privately.

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