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How did Zambia get into so much debt?

Zambia can no longer afford to pay its debts – and this is starting to take its toll on the economy. How did their debt ever get so bad? And why does it matter?

Zambia’s up to its eyeballs in debt.

Late last year, it became the first African country to default on its foreign debt since the Covid pandemic began.

And people across the country have started feeling the pinch: many complain about rising prices and their sudden inability to pay their bills.

But Zambia’s looking for a way out: it’s been talking to the International Monetary Fund, hoping to get some sort of bailout.

How did things get so bad though? And is there an easy way out of this crisis?

Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter)

#AfricaDaily

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16 minutes

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