ACTIONAID Zambia country director Nalucha Ziba says continued delays in clinching the International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal will have negative implications on the 2022 national budget and ultimately, the country’s economy. In a statement, Ziba said the expansionary annual budget was heavily dependent on external and domestic financing, therefore, it remained unclear where the government would source the necessary funds for budget execution. “Following the joint media briefing held by the Ministry of Finance and National planning and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the status of the extended credit facility, it has emerged that the bailout plan is much further from conclusion than initially anticipated. In 2021, the Minister of Finance communicated with confidence that the deal with the...