The United States and Zambia have signed a health cooperation agreement worth about N$40 billion in Lusaka on Thursday.

The signing ended nearly a year of contentious negotiations over patient data and mineral rights that had threatened to derail the partnership.

Botswana and Rwanda signed six bilateral agreements in Gaborone aimed at removing barriers to trade, investment, and people-to-people movement.

Agreements cover double taxation avoidance, visa abolition, health cooperation, and expanded economic and investment collaboration.