Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe says Government looks forward to the coming of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Staff Team for Article 4 Consultations in the first quarter of 2019.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe says the IMF Team was in Zambia to exchange information on economic data that will facilitate the development of a macroeconomic framework for use during the Article 4 Consultations, in the first quarter of 2019.
She says the framework will also provide a basis for determination of any policy adjustments required going forward.
“I wish to update the nation that over the last few days, we were hosting a Team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). We also hosted the IMF Executive Director for the Africa Group One Constituency. Both missions came from the IMF HQ in Washington DC, USA,” she said.
She discloses that the IMF Team comprised David Robinson – IMF Deputy Director for the African Region, Dan Ghura – IMF Mission Chief for Zambia, and other staff specialized in various sectors such as the fiscal and macroeconomic framework, monetary and financial affairs, external debt, and real sector matters.
“During their visit, the IMF Team had engagements with my Ministry, the Bank of Zambia, Zambia’s Cooperating Partners, and Non-State Actors. My meetings with the IMF team were cordial and grounded in mutual respect. The IMF Team finished their mission on Friday and have returned to the IMF Headquarters in Washington, DC, United States of America,” said Mrs. Mwanakatwe.
The Finance Minister says she also had engagements with the New Executive Director for the IMF Africa Group One Constituency Dumisani Mahlinza, who was on a familiarization tour of Zambia.
“It is important to note that our country is not only a shareholder and member of the IMF, but also a member of a focused IMF members sub-group known as the Africa Group One [1] Constituency,” she said.