As the AfDB General Assembly prepares to elect a new president, the institution faces complex economic, social, and geopolitical challenges that will shape Africa’s development trajectory. 

The next AfDB President, in my view, must embody a mix of strong leadership, financial acumen, policy vision, and diplomatic skills to drive Africa’s transformation.  

There is widespread disillusionment across Africa with failed development policies and the persistence of dependence on external sources of financing for reducing poverty and joblessness on the continent. 

The institutions that were put in place after the Second World War – including the World Bank and the IMF – are increasingly seen as part of the problem; not the solution.  The AfDB has not been painted by the same brush. 

The next President of the Bank must have a clear and ambitious vision for Africa’s development, aligned with emerging challenges such as: Climate change adaptation; Technological transformation (AI, digital finance, 5G, blockchain); Youth employment & entrepreneurship; Sustainable infrastructure financing and bold, new strategies to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation.

As Africa stands at the crossroads of climate vulnerability, infrastructure deficits, and a demographic boom, the role of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has never been more vital—or more scrutinized. 

With five candidates vying to lead the institution into its next chapter, attention is understandably drawn to political heavyweights and institutional insiders. 

But it may be the least talked-about contender—Samuel Munzele Maimbo of Zambia—who offers the boldest and most necessary reset for the Bank.

A development finance expert with an impressive track record at the World Bank, Maimbo is not a conventional candidate. He is a technocrat, not a politician. A reformer, not a frontman. 

And in a moment when African institutions must rebuild credibility, deliver real impact, and manage escalating debt and development demands, that may be exactly what is needed.

Maimbo’s deep expertise in public financial management, accountability systems, and international lending frameworks isn’t just technical knowledge—it’s the operating system the AfDB must run on to remain a trusted partner. 

His work has strengthened public sector institutions across Africa, advising on everything from anti-corruption frameworks to debt transparency. These are not headline-grabbing reforms, but they are the foundations of sustainable development.

His career is also refreshingly pan-African. He has worked with countries across Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone Africa, often stepping in to solve complex institutional bottlenecks. 

This broad continental footprint gives him a unique perspective: grounded in Zambia, but global in outlook and continental in relevance.

Critics may argue that Maimbo lacks the political clout of other candidates or the internal visibility of an AfDB veteran. But that critique underestimates what this moment demands. 

The future of the Bank—and of Africa’s development financing architecture—may well hinge on moving beyond regional blocs and political alignments. It requires leadership that is principled, focused, and unencumbered by legacy alliances.

Africa’s development agenda is shifting. More than ever, the continent needs bold but practical thinkers who can bridge the gap between global financial systems and grassroots realities. 

Samuel Munzele Maimbo, with his integrity, intellect, and experience, may not be the most visible name on the ballot. But he just might be the most consequential.

In an age of noise and posturing, it may be time for AfDB to bet on a quiet force.