Zambia Backs Dr. Maimbo’s Candidacy at AfDB Annual Meetings in Abidjan
Zambia’s Finance and National Planning Minister, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to strengthening development cooperation and securing continental support for Dr. Samuel Munzele Maimbo’s bid for the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group.
Speaking at the official opening of the AfDB Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Dr. Musokotwane emphasized Zambia’s readiness to deepen engagement with AfDB member states, development partners, and investors to champion sustainable investment and regional integration.
“We are here to strengthen development cooperation and vote for Dr. Samuel Munzele Maimbo as the next President of the African Development Bank Group,” he said.
The high-level Zambian delegation includes Secretary to the Treasury Felix Nkulukusa, Bank of Zambia Governor Dr. Denny Kalyalya, and Zambia’s Ambassador to Ghana, Daniel Mahongo—who is also accredited to Ivory Coast. The team will participate in statutory meetings, bilateral engagements, and strategic investment forums running from May 26 to May 30.
Key priorities for the delegation include mobilizing support for Dr. Maimbo from both regional and non-regional AfDB member states, promoting Zambia’s public-private partnership (PPP) projects, and exploring opportunities for scaled-up investments in energy, agriculture, value addition, and manufacturing.
Dr. Maimbo, Zambia’s official candidate and a distinguished development finance expert, is scheduled to meet with AfDB member state representatives during pre-election consultations. The decisive presidential vote is set for Thursday, May 29, 2025.
“In the last few months, we have traversed the breadth of the continent and beyond in promoting our candidate,” Dr. Musokotwane noted. “We are optimistic that member states and stakeholders will cast their treasured votes in favour of Dr. Maimbo to avail his proven leadership as President of the AfDB Group.”
The meetings also feature the official launch of the 2025 African Economic Outlook, offering data-driven insights to guide economic strategy and collaboration across the continent. Zambia’s delegation aims to leverage this platform to benchmark best practices and reaffirm the country’s appeal as a prime investment destination in Africa.
