LUSAKA – The World Bank will lend Zambia $600 million under its International Development Assistance (IDA) program over the next three years, the southern African nation’s presidency said on Friday.
Presidential spokesman Amos Chanda told journalists after World Bank vice-president for Africa Makhtar Diop paid a courtesy call on President Edgar Lungu that $150 million would come in direct support for the budget.
“The World Bank is very confident with the steps that Zambia is taking to stabilize the economy,” Chanda said.
Zambia is likely to receive $1.6 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) later this year, the presidency said on April 21, with a review meeting set for June to finalize the agreement.
Reporting by Chris Mfula; editing by Ed Stoddard/Mark Heinrich I Reuters
