Zimbabwe excluded from IMF debt relief

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:

1. Afghanistan
2. Benin
3. Burkina Faso
4. Central African Republic
5. Chad
6. Comoros
7. Congo, D.R.
8. The Gambia
9. Guinea
10. Guinea-Bissau
11. Haiti
12. Liberia
13. Madagascar
14. Malawi
15. Mali
16. Mozambique
17. Nepal
18. Niger
19. Rwanda
20. São Tomé and Príncipe
21. Sierra Leone
22. Solomon Islands
23. Tajikistan
24. Togo and
25. Yemen

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