ZAMBIA: Caritas Zambia Calls for Stakeholder Support Towards Debt Cancellation Campaign
Sandra Kunda
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), through Caritas Zambia, has called for support from the stakeholders in the debt cancellation campaign which was launched on 31st January 2025 by the Zambian Catholic Bishops.
The ZCCB Caritas Executive Director Fr. Gabriel Mapulanga says that to kick-start the campaign, they look forward to working with civil society organizations, the government, opposition politicians, church mother bodies, other religious organizations that are not Christian, the media, and the lenders themselves.
Fr. Mapulanga says the Church intends to undertake several activities, such as conferences for stakeholders, marches, public awareness campaigns, and the distribution of placards to sensitize communities, as well as the use of media.
He says debt cancellation is not a one-man show but a cause that all well-meaning Zambians must support.
Fr. Mapulanga adds that the Church is advocating for debt cancellation with the poor in mind, despite a similar initiative having been carried out 20 years ago because they are the ones suffering the consequences of loan repayments the most.
Fr. Mapulanga further notes that while the government is pushing for debt restructuring, it may not be a sufficient solution to address the country’s debt crisis. Hence, there is a need to support the debt cancellation campaign by providing necessary information.
The campaign aligns with Pope Francis’s call for economic justice and debt forgiveness worldwide as part of the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025.
