Zambia will aim for a 2026 budget deficit of not more than 2.1% of gross domestic product (GDP), down from a target of 4.6% of GDP this year, its finance minister said on Friday.

Other targets set by Situmbeko Musokotwane in a budget presentation included attaining real GDP growth of at least 6.4% next year, up from this year's forecast of 5.8% growth.

Zambia's government is trying to get the copper-rich country's public finances back on track after years of protracted debt restructuring negotiations.

Those efforts were complicated by the worst drought in living memory last year.

(Reporting by Chris Mfula; Writing by Anathi Madubela; Editing by Alexander Winning)