By Staff Reporter
Zimbabwe will not be considered for funding under the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in the 2026 fiscal year after being deemed ineligible for foreign assistance.
The MCC, established under the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, provides financial support to countries that demonstrate a commitment to democratic governance, economic freedom and investment in human development. Each year, the corporation publishes a list of “candidate countries” eligible to enter into compacts with the US government, which set out binding agreements for economic development assistance.
According to a report from the National Archives and Records Administration, Zimbabwe is barred from receiving such support under section 7042(j)(2) of the FY 2025 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. The provision prohibits assistance to Zimbabwe’s central government unless the US Secretary of State certifies that rule of law, property rights, and freedoms of expression, association and assembly have been restored.
Other countries facing similar restrictions include Azerbaijan, Burma, Eritrea, Guinea, Iran, Nicaragua, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Venezuela.
In contrast, all of Zimbabwe’s southern African neighbours — including Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia — remain eligible for MCC support in 2026. To qualify, countries must also meet per capita income thresholds set by the World Bank, which for FY 2026 stands at US$7,855 gross national income per capita.
The development comes despite repeated overtures by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration for US engagement. Earlier this year, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube led a government delegation to IMF and World Bank spring meetings in a bid to secure US-backed support for infrastructure and energy projects.
