Zambia slumps towards another debt crisis
Corruption and easy money are a toxic combination
THE cars in Lusaka are moving even more slowly than usual: hidden speed cameras have spooked drivers in Zambia’s capital. The government is desperate for cash, so motorists who speed are being fleeced. The regime has also announced taxes on boreholes, internet calls and even weather reports. “The pressure is falling on the ordinary people,” complains John Phiri, a taxi driver. “All because the state has run up too much credit.”
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “End of the road”
From the September 15th 2018 edition
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