Zimbabwe, which is already facing a severe food shortage, has not been included among the 25 countries that are to receive debt relief totaling US$500 million from the International Monetary Fund.
The funds are being provided under the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust as part of the Fund’s response to help address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
“This provides grants to our poorest and most vulnerable members to cover their IMF debt obligations for an initial phase over the next six months and will help them channel more of their scarce financial resources towards vital emergency medical and other relief efforts,” the IMF said yesterday.
The World Food Programme says about half the population of Zimbabwe, about7.7 million people, needs food relief this year including more than two million from urban areas.
Zimbabwe has so far reported 17 cases of coronavirus including three deaths.
Ironically, one of Africa’s fastest growing economies, Rwanda, is on the list.
The countries to receive debt relief are:
- Afghanistan
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Congo, D.R.
- The Gambia
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- Niger
- Rwanda
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Islands
- Tajikistan
- Togo and
- Yemen
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