First Quarter Bulletin 2023

The current climate crisis has resulted from, amongst other things, development models that are unsustainable. Zambia cannot squander both its natural and financial resources in its quest for economic growth. But corruption continues to waste public resources that should benefit the people of this country. The need to tackle corruption in a way which transcends party politics is outlined well in this edition of the Bulletin. Furthermore, sustainable development highlights the necessity of debt restructuring, which is key to Zambia’s economic success. Readers will be able to explore in these pages how the inability of Zambia to restructure its debt is blocking foreign investment, devaluing the local currency and putting undue pressure on the public through raising the costs of living. As Pope Francis emphasises in Laudato Si’, the people who are most impacted by climate change and by our inability to develop sustainably are the poor. As we consider how Zambia can best respond to the challenge posed by António Guterres at COP27 and the invitation to sustainable development, let us keep in mind the people who our economic and environmental policies need to serve.