BEFORE YOU SIGN, SHOW US THE DEAL

AIPAC urges government to publish revised US health MoU, saying citizens deserve to know the terms of a billion-dollar agreement before Zambia commits itself

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

Lusaka, Zambia24 — 8-10-2026 — The Acton Institute for Policy Analysis Centre (AIPAC) has challenged government to make public the proposed billion-dollar health Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States before signing the agreement.

AIPAC Executive Director Solomon Ngoma says the call follows government’s renewed intention to reconsider the agreement months after it had rejected the earlier proposal over conditions that raised serious concerns.

Mr. Ngoma told Zambia24 in an exclusive statement that government should explain what has changed between the original agreement and the version now being reconsidered, particularly on provisions that could have implications for Zambia’s sovereignty, natural resources and citizens’ privacy.

He said AIPAC was concerned about conditions previously associated with the proposed agreement, including exclusive mining rights and access to patient databases.

Mr. Ngoma said these provisions were troubling because they appeared to go beyond a conventional health partnership and could potentially create obligations affecting areas of national interest.

He said any arrangement involving Zambia’s mineral resources must be subjected to careful scrutiny because mining rights are directly linked to the country’s economic sovereignty and its ability to determine how its natural wealth is exploited.

Mr. Ngoma also raised concern over the reported access to patient databases, saying health information is highly sensitive and requires strong safeguards to prevent unauthorised access or misuse.

He said citizens have a right to know who would have access to their health information, how such information would be stored and used, and whether it could be transferred or shared outside Zambia.

Mr. Ngoma said AIPAC was therefore particularly concerned by indications from new Health Minister Roma Chilengi that government was prepared to reconsider and potentially sign the agreement without first publishing the revised terms.

He said the public should not be asked to support a major agreement involving billions of dollars and potentially long-term commitments without being allowed to see what Zambia would receive and what it would be required to give in return.

According to Mr. Ngoma, transparency is even more important because the proposed agreement has previously generated concerns over provisions extending beyond direct health cooperation.

He said making the revised MoU public before signing would allow Parliament, civil society organisations, health professionals and ordinary citizens to examine the proposed commitments and raise concerns where necessary.

Mr. Ngoma said publication of the agreement would also help establish whether the controversial provisions that previously led to its rejection had been removed, amended or retained.

He said government should therefore clearly state what has changed in the latest version and why it now believes the agreement is in Zambia’s best interests.

Mr. Ngoma has called on the Ministry of Health to release the proposed MoU together with details of the financial commitments, obligations of both parties, duration of the agreement and safeguards governing the handling of patient information.

He said any clauses relating to mining rights or other national resources should also be made available for public scrutiny before Zambia commits itself.

Mr. Ngoma said international partnerships could play an important role in strengthening Zambia’s health sector, but such cooperation should not come at the expense of the country’s sovereignty, citizens’ privacy or long-term national interests.

He said the issue was therefore not about opposing cooperation between Zambia and the United States, but ensuring that any agreement is transparent, balanced and beneficial to Zambians.

AIPAC has consequently urged government to put the proposed MoU in the public domain before signing, saying citizens deserve to understand the commitments being made on their behalf.

Mr. Ngoma said openness at this stage would strengthen public confidence and allow concerns to be addressed before, rather than after, Zambia enters into potentially far-reaching obligations.