Zambian officials raised alarms over illegal gold mining in Mungwi and Chitambo districts, citing significant revenue losses. Mungwi District Commissioner Muma Musonda said formalizing mining operations would increase tax revenue and GDP contributions. UPND Chairman General William Banda criticized outside miners holding multiple licenses, depriving locals of opportunities and highlighting potential corruption. Authorities urge residents to form cooperatives and engage in legal mining to boost local incomes and national economic growth.

Finance and National Planning Minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane defended Zambia’s debt restructuring, rejecting claims of exaggeration. He said 94% of eligible debt has been restructured. Bilateral agreements with India, Saudi Arabia, France, and China cover 57% of the total. Dr. Musokotwane highlighted results: 5% average economic growth, nearly US$5 billion in reserves, mine expansions, and improvements in education and health services.

Zambia will receive part of a US$14 million allocation from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) via the African Development Bank to boost agro-input access. The funding will de-risk up to US$200 million in private sector financing through the Agro-Inputs Risk Sharing Facility. The initiative targets small- and medium-sized agricultural enterprises, aiming to benefit over 1.5 million smallholder farmers and 500 agro-dealers across Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia.

Economics Association of Zambia President Oswald Mungule says the high cost of living persists despite a stable kwacha due to low productivity and inflation eroding incomes. He cited poor infrastructure, inefficient logistics, and high transport costs as key drivers of rising prices. Mungule urged the government and private sector to boost productivity, support MSMEs, improve access to finance, and align fiscal policies to reduce inflationary pressures.

A Zambian economist has called on the government to compare its economic performance with other African countries to improve foreign direct investment (FDI) competitiveness. He noted that Zambia lags behind neighbors like Mozambique, which attracted $3.6 billion in FDI in 2024 compared with Zambia’s $1.2 billion. He urged stronger support for local industry, anti-corruption reforms, and long-term investment in early childhood development to build a skilled workforce that attracts manufacturing-focused FDI.

The World Health Organization has warned Zambia that the global tobacco industry is stepping up efforts to influence government policies and weaken anti-smoking measures. WHO FCTC official Andrew Black said such interference threatens economic and public health goals by distorting trade, tax, and farming policies. He urged countries to safeguard policymaking from industry pressure and protect revenues tied to tobacco control compliance.