All set for ZIMCODD debt indaba
ANESU MASAMVU
Zimbabwe’s deepening sovereign debt crisis will take centre stage in Mutare next week as policymakers, business leaders, and civil society converge for the 7th Annual Zimbabwe Debt Conference.
The high-stakes indaba, organised by the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) and its civil society partners, runs from July 8 to 9.
It comes at a critical moment as Zimbabwe remains locked out of international capital markets, with arrears now accounting for over 84% of its external debt.
More than 100 delegates are expected, including senior government officials, private sector executives, economists, development experts, and grassroots representatives.
Confirmed participants include officials from the Ministry of Finance’s Public Debt Management Office, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI), the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe, and the Association of Rural District Councils.
Academic institutions will also play a key role, with representatives from the University of Zimbabwe, Midlands State University, Africa University, and the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) expected to contribute to the dialogue.
ZIMCODD has underscored the importance of citizen participation, ensuring that voices from communities most affected by the debt crisis are part of the discussions.
Zimbabwe’s total public and publicly guaranteed debt has ballooned to US$21.2bn, with US$12.3bn owed externally.
The domestic debt has also surged to US$8.1bn, adding further strain to the economy.
ZIMCODD says the conference aims to sharpen the national conversation on debt governance and influence the development of the forthcoming National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
