Zambia 29.05.25

·         The Central Bank held the key interest rate at 14.5%. “Maintaining the current stance of monetary policy is deemed appropriate considering the recent decline in inflation to 16.5% in April from 16.8% in February,” and the balance of risks are still tilted to the downside, Kalyalya said.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-23/zambia-halts-rate-hikes-as-corn-boom-seen-cooling-inflation

·         The US will cut $50mn in annual aid to Zambia because of “systematic theft” of donated drugs and medical supplies. In 2021 the US discovered that medicine and medical supplies that were meant to be given to those in need for free, had been taken and sold by pharmacies. https://www.africanews.com/2025/05/09/us-to-cut-50-million-health-aid-to-zambia-because-of-medicine-theft/

·         Inflation has eased to 15.3% this month. This is the lowest it’s been for 11 months. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-29/zambia-inflation-slows-to-11-month-low-as-food-prices-ease