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| Dr. Denny Kalyalya |
Alternate Executive Director of the Africa Group One Constituency at the World Bank, Dr. Denny Kalyalya has implored the Zambian government to take full advantage of the current warm relations and the numerous opportunities the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) offer to advance the cause of development for Zambia.
Dr. Kalyalya said the World Bank Group and IMF see a lot of potential in Zambia and that engagements with the two Institutions now was of advantage to Zambia’s economic development.
He said, ”The two Institutions see a lot of potential in Zambia and the important role in the global context the country can play in fighting poverty.”
Dr. Kalyalya noted that the recent visits to Zambia by the IMF Managing Director Mr. Dominique Strauss Khan and that of the World Bank Group President Mr. Robert Zoelick in March and December last year respectively were indications of positive economic progress in Zambia.
Other indicators were the establishment of the country office by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the appointment of a Country Director for Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe stationed in Zambia.
“ It is therefore incumbent upon Zambia and Zambians to step up to the plate and explore various options through the Country Assistance Strategies (CASs) and other mechanisms of effectively engaging with the Bretton Woods Institutions (BWIS) for the betterment of mother Zambia,” he added.
Dr. Kalyalya was speaking at a luncheon hosted at the Zambia Embassy in Washington DC to mark the end of the Minister of Finance and National Planning Dr. Situbeko Musokotwane and his delegation’s attendance of the 2011 IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings.
Earlier, Dr Musokotwane told his audience which included Zambians working at the IMF and World Bank that the 2011 IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings were a success.
He said he was pleased to note that Zambia was attracting a lot of positive attention within the IMF, World Bank Group and the African Development Bank .
The Minister said the Bretton Wood Institutions were interested in understanding Zambia’s economic priorities. Crucial infrastructure and developmental needs of Zambia and how the various institutions could collaborate with the government were discussed at length during these meetings.
Dr. Musokotwane was particularly happy with the discussions on the way forward regarding the funding of a railway line to connect Zambia to the Port of Lobito in Angola, which he said was “critical” for Zambia’s imports and exports
He stated the willingness by the African Development Bank (ADB) on projects such as the Kazungula Bridge – a joint project between Zambia and Botswana across the Zambezi River that is intended to link Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Botswana and South Africa.
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