By Ibrahim Kamara CTPD Policy Lead on Tax Justice
The Centre for Trade Policy and Development agrees with Former Finance Minister, Honorable Ng’andu Magande’s remarks on the unlikeliness of Zambia’s debt cancellation. CTPD also thinks that the lack of transparency on the terms and conditions under which some of the loans were acquired makes it even more difficult to provide policy suggestions on how to progressively solve the debt challenge.
Indeed, the growing public debt has caused worry among many stakeholders among which includes the Civil Society Organizations with others beginning to make a call for debt forgiveness as the potential solution to the looming debt crisis.
As Zambia’s stock of public debt continues to rise with recent figures reporting it at USD 11.2 billion of external debt and K80.2 billion on domestic debt, the Government has not demonstrated the much-needed proactive response and commitment to respond to the growing challenge.
While it might be out of growing desperation to find solutions to the growing public debt problem, CTPD equally holds the view that it is highly unlikely that Zambia may receive forgiveness on its debt as the circumstances under which the country benefited from debt forgiveness programs such the Highly Indebted Poor Countries-HIPC Initiative are different from the prevailing conditions, especially when we break down the characteristics and composition of Zambia’s debt.
Firstly, there is a need to understand that about 55 % of Zambia’s external debt is in commercial loans. Commercial loans, which are debt advanced by financial institutions has interest rates determined by prevailing market conditions. Unlike concessional loans, these loans have high-interest rates and are highly profit motive thus making debt forgiveness a farfetched expectation.
Zambia also has bilateral and multilateral debt which by 2019 accounted for 22% of external debt. You may want to know that these are loans owed to bilateral creditors in other countries such as export credit agencies and big national banks or multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. These are the types of loans that were easily forgiven during the HIPC initiative era to which Zambia benefited when bilateral and multilateral lenders provided their share of relief to Zambia under the enhanced HIPC initiative. All said we must remember that debt relief is voluntary in nature and nothing binds the creditors to forgive debtors.
Secondly, about 30% of all Zambia’s External Debt by 2018 was owed to China. In a recent study that focused on Chinese debt, CTPD established that the loans were obtained from various sources in China and largely from the Export- import bank of China. It is CTPDs considered view that the loans owed to China by Zambia are unlikely to be forgiven at least not significantly for two reasons. First, China is now the leading global lender and would in this case risk setting precedence such that other countries equally start approaching china to seek forgiveness for their debt. Secondly, China itself is currently facing lower economic growth following the devastating effects of COVID- 19 and these resources may prove vital in revamping its economy.
We also raised concerns about the opaqueness of the Chinese loans- there is lack of publicly available information around the terms and conditions of the loans, this makes it difficult to know even when some of them are due. This is a harsh reality we need to accept and face.
Going forward, the Zambian Government needs to do the following. Firstly, Government should review its borrowing policies and strengthen its debt management systems. Secondly, Government should take seriously recommendations from the Bank of Zambia and comprehensively revise its fiscal policies in line with prudent public financial management practices. In addition, Zambia needs to decisively deal with the scourge of inflated project costs and corruption in public procurement. More importantly, Government should halt non-viable economic infrastructure projects.
Furthermore, Zambia needs to urgently engage its lenders and review some of the loan terms. Key among the things to look at will include; the terms of payment, the interest rates as well as the duration of payment.
Finally, Government will need to support the local private sector to take up the leading role when it comes to undertaking development initiatives including those on infrastructure. This debt challenge requires sober minds and clear decisive actions by the Government to mitigate a socio-economic crisis that may come if Zambia defaults on its debt obligations. CTPD stands ready to work with stakeholders to develop and implement appropriate policies that will forestall such a crisis.
Ngandu Magande was the last proper finance minister Zambia has had(Well actually Bwalya Ngandu also seems decent). But the rest aftet Magande have been largely a disgrace. It goes without saying that Magande’s opinions must be taken seriously
Yes Bwalya Ng’andu is an upright man serving in a wrong government
I miss the team of upright men like Ng’andu Magande, Caleb Fundanga and their boss Mwanawasa.
These are men who fought hard to bring us out HIPC and if we can learn from their zeal of serving public offices.
We are left with quacks controlling the affairs of the country. What are joke the economy has crumbled to the dead point.
PF must go!
Alexander Chikwanda is the best he removed the zeros
Not true. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane’s tenure from 2008-2011 also experienced high economic growth.
2008 -GDP growth 7.7%
2009 -GDP growth 9.22%
2010- 10.2%
2011 -5’5%
It was during Dr Musokotwane’s tenure that the preparation for rebasing the currency and borrowing from money markets was done.
Only fooools would give lungu international aid and there are No longer any fooools in international money circles …..
So , that leaves lungu with nothing.
A big Amen to that. IMF should never make the mistake of giving Zambia money because that will make me and million more Zambians lose more money from our pockets to pay back these loans. so let us enjoy the fruits of our own folly as Zambians and work hard to take ourselves out of this mess without any aid or more borrowings.
A big Amen to that. IMF should never make the mistake of giving Zambia money because that will make me and million more Zambians lose more money from our pockets to pay back these loans. so let us enjoy the fruits of our own misdeeds as Zambians and work hard to take ourselves out of this mess without any aid or more borrowings.
How many Finance Ministers worked under the current PFools Government? How much can Chinese pay for there organs?
A big Amen to that. No more money out of my pocket as a taxpayer and many more Zambians out there. this mess we are in we need to get ourselves out without dependence on aid nor more borrowings. A lesson must be now learned no matter how bitter or ugly so that leaders and people of zambia at large do not ever take things for granted again but act responsibly.
The best finance minister?? Responsible for hoarding over $3bn while 3m Lusakans had 1 UTH with women giving birth on the floor, potholes on major roads, no investment in power plants which lead to loadshedding, a colonial pontoon on one of major trade borders….
Presenting the country’s budget in 2004 you compared Zambia to the Israelites who found rest after travelling for 40 yrs and during your tenure of duty it looked possible but now it is looking impossible may be even returning to Egypt could be a better option for a being like me.
Let me simplify these NGANDE’S scenario at komboni level, when you borrow from a village banking scheme( friends, relatives, church members) the likelihood of you negotiating for changes to your repayment period and term is very achievable unlike when you borrow from kaloba (shylocks) like shi mumbi wa lufumo.
It is in times like this that the mettle of actual happenings is revealed. Now we see. The next is to know who exactly these lenders are. Do we have Freedom of Information in Zed?
Bwalya Ng’andu appears decent and I think he is, but the rot we are in is deep. That Chikwanda guy who was just borrowing and borrowing, with his boss not questioning anything is the real terrorist, Even in a home, can you surely borrow to the extent of not having anything to respond to emergencies, look at how we struggled to pay 27 million dollars for the importation of power from SA. Let me tell you that 27 million dollars is very little money for a country, we have individuals just individuals who have that kind of money, but a country with all its resources struggling to pay that little money for me was the last kick. That is when my eyes fully opened, I was even blindly supporting them before then
Why do we always jump for debt cancellation? we can pay our way out of debt with the amount of resources this country has in abundance. We just need a new crop of leaders to form a party with a purpose. The existing ones carry too much baggage.
It’s always a Pessimistic time from these harbingers of ill will.
They seem to enjoy the torment of citizens so they can whip us into voting for them. Sorry dude, we pray we will get debt relief.
BEST FINANCE MINISTER EVER, ADVISE GOVERNMENT TO PAY RETIREES AT PSPF.