Zambia vows to crack down on ‘systematic’ theft after US aid cut

Zambia, on Friday, May 9, 2025, has reportedly taken action to stop the “systematic theft” of donated medical supplies.

This follows the United States’ announcement that it will withdraw $50 million (£37 million) in health sector funding from the country.

The move is expected to affect the availability of treatment for malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis.

However, Zambia’s Health Minister, Elijah Muchima, assured the public that there is currently “no immediate risk of shortages.”

He also claimed that 75% of the population still has access to essential medications.

US Ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gonzales, said the aid withdrawal was prompted by ongoing corruption and theft of medical donations.

Gonzales declared on Thursday:

“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.”

In response, Muchima expressed gratitude for the US’s continued support but emphasized that the thefts began before the current government assumed office in 2021.

The Zambian government has since dismissed several officials implicated in the thefts.

It has also reportedly introduced “an advanced digital stock tracking system” to improve transparency and monitor drug supplies.

The US cuts are separate from the broader foreign aid freeze announced by former President Donald Trump in January.

Ambassador Gonzales noted that the decision to halt funding followed numerous warnings to Zambia’s government to protect vital medical supplies intended for the country’s most vulnerable patients.

The United States currently funds around one-third of Zambia’s public health spending, according to a statement from the US embassy.

US officials revealed that a widespread theft of medical products was discovered, with drugs meant for free public distribution being sold in private pharmacies.

A year-long investigation by the US embassy found that over 2,000 pharmacies across Zambia were selling donated medical supplies.

Alarmingly, 95% of the pharmacies selling products provided by the US were also dealing in stolen goods.

According to media reports, nearly half of these pharmacies were confirmed to be selling medications and supplies donated by the US government.

Additionally, some were found to be distributing stolen medical stocks originally purchased by the Zambian government, the Global Fund, and other international donors.

The US embassy reported that it had presented its findings to Zambia in April of the previous year, offering technical support to help stop the thefts and bring the culprits to justice.

However, the embassy stated that no meaningful action was taken.

“I regret that to date, the government’s actions have fallen drastically short of demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding US assistance and the lives we aim to save,” the statement said.

The embassy also criticized Zambia’s law enforcement for focusing on “low-level actors.”

This resulted in the arrest of only a few mid-level officials, rather than targeting the supply chains and masterminds behind the widespread theft of medical supplies.

Ambassador Gonzales remarked that the US “can no longer justify to the American taxpayer continuing to provide such massive levels of assistance.”

He emphasized that the cuts will specifically affect drugs for malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly,” Gonzales said, visibly emotional as he discussed the impact the decision will have on Zambian patients.

The aid reductions will begin in January of the following year, allowing the Zambian government some time to develop alternative solutions.

Nevertheless, Gonzales confirmed that “the decision had been made.”

Since the beginning of Trump’s presidency, billions of dollars in global health aid have been cut, affecting several African countries including Zambia.

HIV remains a significant threat in Zambia, particularly among adolescents and young adults.

On his first day in office, Trump announced the suspension of foreign aid as part of his “America First” foreign policy agenda.

These aid reductions have impacted various health programs across Africa, including shipments of crucial medical supplies such as HIV medications.

Most of the programs  which delivered health and humanitarian support to vulnerable nations, have been discontinued.

These were programs run by the US Agency for International Development (USAID),

In March, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema acknowledged the consequences of the aid cuts, saying that Trump had “slapped us on both cheeks.”

He stressed the importance of strengthening Zambia’s financial independence to allow it to purchase its own medical supplies.

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