The US Embassy has begun reviewing all aid to Zimbabwe under President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy, which prioritises domestic spending over foreign assistance.
Shortly after taking office, Trump introduced sweeping changes to the country’s foreign aid model, prioritising domestic development and what he termed the “reasonable use of taxpayer money.”
The shift has led to the suspension of millions of dollars in funding for local civil society organisations (CSOs), as well as billions in aid globally.
Zimbabwe has long relied on US funding for its health and education sectors, raising concerns that the policy change could destabilise essential services.
A temporary waiver was later issued for health-related funding, after warnings that Africa’s fragile healthcare systems were at risk of collapse.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the US Embassy in Zimbabwe confirmed that funding is now being reassessed to align with Washington’s foreign policy priorities.
“The review of all foreign assistance programs will ensure they are efficient and consistent with U.S. foreign policy under the America First agenda,” the statement read.
“The US Embassy in Zimbabwe has paused its foreign assistance and is reviewing its programs to bring them in line with this Executive Order and the waiver.”
Despite the review, the statement highlighted US contributions to Zimbabwe’s development over the years.
“The United States is proud of the gains we have helped Zimbabwe make in health, food security, and development.
Today, 1.2 million Zimbabweans live longer, healthier lives because of PEPFAR’s support for HIV services.
Over 1,600 public hospitals and clinics have benefited from training and technical support from the United States.”
The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funds a significant portion of Zimbabwe’s fight against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, including the provision of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and condoms.
Additionally, more than 500,000 Zimbabweans affected by the recent El Niño-induced drought have received US humanitarian assistance.
