Editor's note: Fitch today affirmed Zambia's credit rating at 'B', and revised the outlook to positive owing largely to the rebased GDP figures, government revoking BoP regulations and promises to consolidate fiscal spending as part of the ongoing discussion with the IMF on a new austerity programme. The Fitch assessment does not appear to reflect current information on some issues so some the risks it flags requires deeper consideration.
Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlook on Zambia's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) to Positive from Stable and affirmed the IDRs at 'B'. The issue ratings on Zambia's senior unsecured foreign and local currency bonds have also been affirmed at 'B'. The Country Ceiling has been affirmed at 'B+' and the Short-term foreign currency IDR at 'B'.
The revision of the Outlook on Zambia's IDRs reflects the following key rating drivers and their relative weights:
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