African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina said on Tuesday he is optimistic that Zimbabwe will settle its arrears as talks to develop a comprehensive debt relief plan for the country began.
Adesina is in Zimbabwe country to discuss possible areas of technical assistance that the AfDB will provide to the government.
Adesina accepted a request from the Zimbabwean government in February to act as an advocate for the country’s debt resolution with international financial institutions and bilateral creditors.
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“I am very confident that it will work. Zimbabwe cannot continue with a heavy backpack. It absolutely must clear its arrears by creating an arrears clearance roadmap.
“This will allow it to move forward in solving its economic problems,” Adesina told reporters in Harare on Tuesday.
Adesina conducted several meetings with Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, development partners and the private sector before visiting President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the State House.
Zimbabwe is the only AfDB regional member country currently under sanctions from the bank and other multilateral financial institutions for over $2.6 billion in arrears.
