The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Mr. Akinwumi Adesina, has urged stakeholders to view Zimbabwe with a renewed outlook, emphasizing the need for forward-thinking strategies rather than retributive approaches.
Speaking in his capacity as the champion of Zimbabwe’s debt clearance process, Mr. Adesina commended the country’s progress in governance and its efforts to implement recommendations from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to address its debt challenges.
“We must look at Zimbabwe with new lenses—not lenses of the past but lenses of the new future. These new lenses should inform and guide us towards a strategic approach, not a retributive approach,” Mr. Adesina stated.
Zimbabwe has been working closely with international financial institutions to clear its external debt arrears, which have hampered its access to global capital markets. The government’s adoption of key IMF recommendations marks a significant step towards achieving this goal.
Mr. Adesina highlighted the progress Zimbabwe has made in governance reforms, despite considerable challenges. Reports from the World Justice Project and the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) have also recognized Zimbabwe’s incremental improvements in governance indicators, underscoring a trajectory of positive change.
The AfDB president’s remarks come as Zimbabwe seeks international goodwill and partnerships to revitalize its economy and address its debt obligations. He praised the government’s commitment to aligning its policies with international best practices and fostering dialogue with global financial institutions.
