Tinotenda Hove- Zimbabwe paid nearly US$170 million towards its external debt during the first six months of 2026, a development that is likely to fuel debate over government spending priorities at a time when many citizens continue to face economic hardship.

According to official figures, the country serviced US$169.97 million in external debt between January and June 2026. The payments included US$95.38 million in principal repayments and US$74.59 million in interest charges.

A significant share of the repayments went towards Zimbabwe’s active debt portfolio, with US$88.15 million in principal repayments directed to facilities provided by Afreximbank. The Government also continued making interest payments to multilateral and bilateral creditors.

The figures have drawn criticism from some observers, who argue that while meeting debt obligations is important for maintaining international financial credibility, many Zimbabweans are more concerned about rising living costs, underfunded public services, unemployment and persistent poverty.

“The numbers may look impressive on paper, but they offer little comfort to families struggling to afford food, healthcare and basic necessities,” one economic observer said.

Another analyst said debt servicing should be accompanied by visible improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens. “Citizens will judge economic management by whether they see better jobs, reliable public services and lower living costs, not simply by the size of debt repayments,” the observer said.

The latest debt servicing figures are therefore expected to reignite discussion over whether sufficient resources are being directed towards addressing the everyday challenges facing Zimbabweans while the country continues to honour its financial commitments.