Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has called for the rapid and comprehensive conclusion of the country’s debt restructuring program, emphasizing the need to address lingering uncertainties and pave the way for economic growth.
In separate bilateral meetings with World Bank President Ajay Banga and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, President Hichilema expressed gratitude for their institutions’ unwavering support throughout the restructuring process. He reiterated Zambia’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations and highlighted the urgency of resolving the remaining issues promptly.
“We stressed that delays in Zambia’s case could impact other nations interested in adopting the same framework,” President Hichilema stated. “We are grateful to both institutions for appreciating the need to expedite the process so that the country can move into full implementation of real projects in energy, infrastructure, mining, and agriculture.”
President Hichilema underscored the importance of agriculture in Zambia’s economic recovery, emphasizing the need for rapid advancements in mechanization and irrigation to enable year-round crop cultivation.
“We are particularly eager to quickly boost agricultural production as a priority for quick wins in rebuilding the economy,” he asserted.