Fri, 07 Jul 2017 10:50:41 +0000
By OSCAR MALIPENGA
THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) cannot bailout a country which is on fire hence government’s decision to invoke article 31 of the Constitution, President Edgar Lungu has charged.
The Head of State has charged that he does not think the IMF would like to entertain a country which was on fire.
Responding to questions from journalists who wanted to find out whether or not the IMF would continue the discussions following cabinet’s decision to invoke article 31, President Lungu said the IMF were free to go if they wanted to do so. “If the IMF want to go they can go. They are free to go because we cannot sacrifice the lives of Zambians at the altar of economic expedience then what are we investing for?” President Lungu said.
He said if the IMF thought what he did was wrong he would refer them to article 31 of the Constitution of Zambia which gave him the power to do so.
“Everything we do we consult and I want to be remembered for just sticking to the law and doing things within the expectations of the people.
“So IMF if they want to go because of this they can go and I am saying this openly if IMF thinks we have gone beyond the norms of good governance and democracy they are free to go.
“We cannot sacrifice Zambian people at the altar of economic expedience then what are we investing for? We invest the money today, tomorrow they burn the money up? No!” he said.
President Lungu said as long as the people of Zambia were safe them IMF programme would be safe.
“But if the people are not safe infrastructure is being burnt left right and centre we have to spend money to build those markets again. We have to spend money to rehabilitate electricity pylons and supply lines. This is what the IMF would like and I am sure the IMF would like to come into a country which stable which is growing where they are sure that their money and programmes will yield desired results. But I have made it very clear that if they think I have gone astray let them go,” President Lungu said.
