Zambia bets on growth after years of reform

Zambia stepped into 2026 with one of the strongest growth outlooks in the region, powered by a surging mining sector and a recovering agricultural landscape. With GDP projected to rise by 6.4% and copper output expected to exceed 1 million tons, the country is betting big on stability after years of reform and restructuring.

But behind the optimism lie fresh challenges — from fiscal pressures flagged by the IMF to the realities of high poverty levels and an election year that could reshape policy priorities. 

In this episode of AfricaLink, Adwoa Tenkoramaa Domena speaks to Dr Osward Mungule, president of the Economics Association of Zambia and DW’s Kathy Short in Lusaka.