Harare, (New Ziana) –The United States is conducting a
comprehensive review of all its foreign assistance programs to ensure
they are efficient and consistent with foreign policy of the new
President Donald Trump led administration.
In a statement, the US embassy in Zimbabwe confirmed it has temporarily
paused its foreign assistance and is re-evaluating its programs to align
with President Trump’s Executive Order on Re-evaluating and Realigning
US Foreign Aid.
The new Donald Trump administration ordered all staff directly hired by
the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to be placed on
leave globally, in a move aimed at cutting expenditure on foreign aid, .
“On January 20, President Trump’s Executive Order on Reevaluating and
Realigning United States Foreign Aid paused all US foreign assistance
funded by or through the State Department and USAID for review.
“The review of all foreign assistance programs will ensure they are
efficient and consistent with US foreign policy under the America First
agenda,” said the U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe.”
The embassy clarified that on January 28, Secretary of State Marco Rubio
issued a waiver allowing US government agencies, partners, and NGOs to
continue or resume work on core life-saving initiatives.
These include medicine, medical services, food, shelter, subsistence
assistance, and necessary administrative costs to deliver such aid.
“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,” it said.
Highlighting the impact of US assistance in Zimbabwe, the embassy noted
significant achievements in health, food security, and development.
“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.
“More than 500 000 Zimbabweans have benefited from US humanitarian
assistance during the El Nino-induced drought. Over 1 600 public
hospitals and clinics have benefited from training and technical support
from the United States,” the embassy said.
New Ziana
