World Bank Approves $270 Million Loan to Zambia
The World Bank has approved a $270 million USD loan to Zambia as part of its efforts to help the global economy recover from the extraordinary impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The organisation also cited the economic impacts of the war in Ukraine and the desire to be proactive in the management of debt crises as reasons why Zambia was loaned the large sum.
The bank noted that “sub-Saharan Africa is feeling the brunt of what has been coined the perfect storm, a food, fuel, and fertilizer crisis exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, scarring the effects from the Covid-19 pandemic, soaring inflation, rising debt, and extreme weather.”
The New Dawn government has made debt management a crucial priority going forwards. Zambia was the first African nation to default on its debts during the pandemic but the economic outlook has improved significantly since the UPND came to power.
The $1.3 billion loan from the IMF, secured earlier this year, has alleviated the burden of debt servicing and has allowed the government to focus on driving private sector growth in a more stable economic environment. Peaking at a damaging 24% under the previous administration, inflation has been slashed in the last eighteen months. February saw the country’s S&P credit rating upgraded to reflect the more welcoming financial environment, and foreign investment has flowed in.
Such investment is hoped to help both major corporations and ordinary Zambian citizens. For example, First Quantum Minerals have approved plans for a $1.25 billion dollar investment into its Kansanshi mine in Zambia. This is expected to further enhance Zambia’s reputation as one of the world’s primary copper producers. Whilst smaller initiatives, such as the $24 million dollars in export deals recently signed with companies in the DRC, are expected to help small and medium-sized businesses to increase non-traditional exports such as pork and maize. Proper debt-management, and financial stability, thus have benefits across all levels of the Zambian economy.
Earlier this month, a government minister pledged that Zambia “will never again default” on its debts. The minister for technology and science emphasised however that Zambia’s economic growth must be targeted towards the transformation of people’s lives above international priorities. He stated, “we are saying money must be spent on priorities that change people’s lives unlike being wasteful. It must be invested to transform the people’s lives.”
The World Bank is hopeful that a transformation in Zambia’s agricultural sector can drive that change, aiding both macro and microeconomic goals for the country. A recent report estimated that 140 million people in Africa currently face acute food insecurity. Zambia’s agricultural sector is seen as an underutilised source of growth. Only 20% of the country’s arable land is presently used for farming.
The report emphasised that “the World Bank is ramping up its efforts and joining forces with partners across the food systems landscape to help these countries and others prepare and implement this critical transformation.”
It is hoped this additional loan will further the stabilisation of the Zambian economy and provide a platform for growth.