FIA Zimbabwe Calls for Debt Cancellation Amid Health, Education Funding Concerns
Michelle Moyo
As finance ministers gather in Bangkok, Thailand, for the 2026 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings (12–18 October), the Zimbabwe Fight Inequality Alliance (FIA Zimbabwe) has called for debt cancellation, arguing that debt repayments and fiscal policies are putting pressure on funding for essential public services.
FIA Zimbabwe national coordinator Nqobizitha Mlambo said the country’s debt burden was limiting resources available for healthcare and education.
“Public debt is crippling our fiscal space, forcing us to choose between paying foreign creditors and keeping our kids in school or funding our hospitals. The IMF and World Bank must cancel the public debt now because Zimbabweans are paying for the crisis they did not create,” he said.
According to figures cited by FIA Zimbabwe, the country’s public debt stands at US$24.4 billion, equivalent to 44.7% of gross domestic product (GDP), including US$13.6 billion in external debt. The organisation says the government spent US$170 million on debt servicing and arrears clearance in the first half of 2026, while recording a ZiG14.2 billion budget surplus.
The Alliance also cited government budget figures indicating that the Ministry of Health and Child Care had received 33% of its allocation by mid-2026, while the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education had executed 35% of its allocation by June.
The organisation further cited an estimated 40,000 school dropouts in 2025, with unpaid fees identified as a major contributing factor.
Mlambo criticised the tax burden on low-income earners, saying the tax-free threshold remained at US$100 a month despite rising living costs. FIA Zimbabwe also said the IMF’s July 2026 review flagged missed targets for protected social spending.
The alliance is urging the government and international financial institutions to address the country’s debt burden and prioritise funding for essential public services.
