00:00Zimbabwe has abruptly pulled out of talks with the United States over a new health aid
00:06deal meant to replace a program dismantled under President Donald Trump.
00:10The agreement would have provided $367 million over five years, supporting 1.2 million Zimbabweans
00:19receiving HIV treatment.
00:21Officials say the negotiations were halted because the terms threatened national autonomy,
00:26with concerns that the pact could shift control of disease response and grant Washington broad
00:32access to health data. The U.S. has been pursuing similar agreements across Africa under its
00:38America First strategy, partly to counter China's influence on the continent with Kenya, Rwanda,
00:45Uganda, Lesotho and Eswatini among the countries that have signed deals. With Zimbabwe stepping
00:52back, the U.S. now faces the task of winding down its health assistance in the country,
00:57leaving the future of HIV and broader health support uncertain.
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