8. Being indebted to the West is a real peril

Debt can become a new form of colonial control – this was a warning by Kenneth Kaunda, and it still rings true today. Loans with harsh conditions sacrifice policy sovereignty. He championed debt relief and self‑reliance. True development, he said, needs freedom from financial shackles. Together with Kaweche Kaunda, we reflect on his father’s call for fiscal sovereignty and sustainable growth.