On 5th March 2025, the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), proudly launched the Local Government Debt and Arrears Analysis Report. The study provides a review of debt and arrears accumulation across all 116 Local Authorities in Zambia.
The event was graced by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Honorable Gary Nkombo, MP, who underscored Government’s commitment to tackling rising Local Authority debt and improving financial management.
The report reveals that Local Authority debt and arrears stood at K4.6 billion as September 2023, affecting service delivery, infrastructure development, and decentralization efforts. Therefore, ZIPAR urges strategic reforms, including enhanced revenue collection, stronger debt monitoring mechanisms, and improved financial transparency to ensure that local governments remain financially sustainable.
The launch brought together policymakers, Government representatives, and development partners to discuss solutions aimed at strengthening Zambia’s local governance and fiscal stability.
Let us work together to build stronger, debt-resilient Local Authorities for sustainable development!
To access the report, please use the link below: