Zambia: Development

Britain has announced additional funding of more than US $12 million to address the growing food needs in drought-stricken Malawi and Zambia.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) have agreed that Zambia has taken the necessary steps to reach its completion point under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Debt Initiative. Zambia is the 17th country to reach its completion point under the enhanced framework of the HIPC Debt Initiative.

Zambia's President Levy Mwanawasa weathered tough criticism in 2004 for his government's apparent kow towing to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB).

Zambia's efforts to improve the quality of school education are being hampered by harsh conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a new report by the development agency, Oxfam, has claimed.

While the Zambian government will be expected to give up to $156 million to the IMF in debt payments this year, it does not have the resources to help solve the teacher crisis which has put thousands of Zambian teachers out of work, and even more students without an adequate education. The Global Campaign for Education report has made a number of recommendations to the IMF, all without any positive response.

The Zambian government in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched its first Millennium Development Goals (MDG) report in Lusaka. The report on the eight millennium goals revealed that Zambia is way behind target and will most likely fail to achieve any of the goals with the exception of Gender Equality and women empowerment.

Government and the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) have established a task force to mobilise $13.7 million by March for the expansion of irrigation farming in Zambia. After a good harvest in last farming season. Government is working towards improving the agricultural sector.

Officials in Zambia reiterated the government's commitment to agricultural development on Thursday, saying sustained investment in the rural economy could prove critical in tackling widespread poverty.

Zambian workers have held national protests against the government's proposed wage freeze and the new Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax system introduced in this year's budget. The workers who were wailing and singing funeral songs were led by Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President Leonard Hikaumba