International Trade Consultant Trevor Simumba has condemned the statement issued by State House Spokesman Amos Chanda regarding the impending IMF bailout deal for Zambia.
Mr Chanda told Journalists this week that the Zambian government will not agree to any IMF programme that will hurt the majority of poor Zambians.
Zambia is before the end of this year expected to sign up to an IMF bailout package believed to be in the region of US$ 1.2 billion but the assistance is expected to come with stringent austerity measures.
Mr Chanda however said the Zambian government is not ready to accept tough austerity measures from the IMF that could hurt the poor.
But Mr Simumba said the statement from Mr Chanda should not have been made as it exposes the government and weakens their negotiation power.
“In fact, these issues must be dealt with by Secretary to Treasury or BOZ Governor not the spokesperson who has no clue about the dynamics of negotiating an IMF programme,” Mr Simumba said.
He said, “Remember the reason we need the IMF is that the PF Government in particular the former Minister of Finance have completely mismanaged the economy and have put Zambia in a debt and fiscal deficit crisis that requires the IMF. Zambia is in a very weak position to begin to dictate terms.”
Mr Simumba said the focus for the Zambian government should be on designing a recovery programme that shows that Government expenditure especially on salaries and Recurrent Departmental Charges will be controlled and reduced.
He said government should also focus on ensuring that the country collects more revenue domestically and attract significant new investment.
“Posturing with no plan is a recipe for disaster,” he warned.
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Trevor is right
Amos Chanda thinks than IMF negotiations are like negotiating for Lobola. There will actually be negotiating with IMF, it is either you take the $1.2 billion with their conditions or leave it.
In fact Amos should be the next to be relieved of his duties. Amos has not helped Edgar Lungu in any way. He is copying what the arrogance of Sata’s spokesperson (George Chellah) which is demeaning ECL’s humbleness. The president should have qualified advisors from the presidency office who should be briefing us on such matters. If anything, his position should be scrapped with immediate effect.
Amos is a spokes person he was merely conveying the message from the government. Trevor you r the one posturing and showing off. Consultant my as.s
But Trevor, you should know that the Chandas of this world speak to just to speak. In ciBemba we say amalanda kanwa. Very often I wonder who said anyone can make a statement without checking with the “boss.” Or is it an new kaca? The focus should be on developing a recovery program, you say. Who is going to lead that charge who would not have helped the president craft a vision?
The mark of a leader is judged not only by the weight of the hand with which he rules but also by the people he surrounds himself with. Step back and look at the track record of Dr. Kambwili. The man is as empty as the unjustified threats he has always issued. The Frank Bwalyas, the Hapundas, and the Emanuel Mwambas of this village! The purpose of government gets reduced to feeding those in office. Everything…
And I quote, “Zambia is in a very weak position to begin to dictate terms”.
We do understand the fiscal position that the economy we facing and the factors that brought about this situation. The goverment is fully aware of the bargaining process that go with IMF negotiations. Mr Simumba must know that the IMF will always suggest the harshest of the austerity measures regardless of the country’s fiscal position. Mr Simumba himself does not understand what goes in the negotiations. It is folly to say the government must just go there and sit through the negotiations and accept whatever the IMF will bring to he table. Mr Czhanda is the presidential spoke-person who speaks for the president. Are you telling us that the president Are you sying the president should not have any say in these matters. Go and find yourself a job Mr Simumba. You are nt an expert in…
The entire PF shouldn’t have a say until they find someone with at least half a brain. Zambians are very quick to respond even to things they don’t understand. Like Amos above. Talk is cheap…go out and do something worthwhile for you and the family instead of milking the meagre resources the government has. We as Zambians have not come up with any innovation in any sphere of life, but we seem to have experts in talkology all over the place including beer halls. No wonder we ended up with a drunkard as head of state.
@ PM that a point…
I disagree with Trevor who doesn’t seem to known what negotiations with IMF entails.Even in poverty you can still maintain your dignity.
We do understand the fiscal position that the economy is facing and the factors that brought about this situation. The government is fully aware of the bargaining process that go with IMF negotiations. Mr Simumba must know that the IMF will always suggest the harshest of the austerity measures regardless of the country’s fiscal position. Mr Simumba himself does not understand what goes in the negotiations. It is folly to say the government must just go there and sit through the negotiations and accept whatever the IMF will bring to he table. Mr Chanda is the presidential spoke-person who speaks for the president. Are you saying the president should not have any say in these matters. Go and find yourself a job Mr Simumba you are not an expert in anything
You scatter head just because you were given a contract to collect garbage you think you know anything !
Ba Amos [boot licking] is a sin just keep quite if you don’t understand how IMF operate and leave it to professionals. You simple mouth piece of one chakolwa chagwa
I think some one is going the wrong way, the statement of Chanda coming out will not help us, which position does Amos holds in Government? Is he speaking on behalf the Government or State house, l thought this is an agreement between Govnmt and IMF not State house and IMF. where is Fredson Yamba and Boz boss? l know Zambians we have too much knowledge of politics but please some issues let the professionals handle them Remember what the CJ said in L/stone during the CIMA,ACCA and ZICA gathering. its high time professional people come on board and give directions than letting a Cadre to issue National Statements. Amos will not even be on that panel during the Negotiations but today he is the one giving guidelines as to what we should expect. I dont blame him but its just our system in…
Feeds in is at Ministry of Finance which oversees the BoZ. Because the supera Ministry of Finance reports to the president and Chanda is the mouth piece of that president, Chanda feels he can flap his lips and address even issues he knows nothing about. That’s the problem we have as Zambians. It is in our DNA and is quite irresistible. Now Kalyalya cannot say anything to contradict since doing so might cost him his job.
What is sad is that when he made remarks about the IMF status on Zambia everyone was quick to say good man not to dance to their demands….PF supporters vote and understand on loyalty not for the future of our children and mother Zambia…..this kanabesa, bwana, boss is so deep in us we fail to make rational judgement…..but in time we hopeful things will change..ANC lost most financial sound metros because SA citizen are realising that the future of their kids is important than blind faith or loyalty
Blind loyalty is the voting pattern in southern province! That’s some serious ………..!
That’s a whole different issue, trudi. Depart from this them against us mentality. People of Southern province are not paid from public funds. Government officials and workers are. Criticize the one you feed, not a free Zambian who doesn’t depend on taxes for their cibanzi and kotapela. Be rational and logical.
Amos is just demonstrating idiocy. It’s either he is subsidizing the truth or he is just refusing to remember the SAP. This IMF package is definitely coming with employment freeze! Government will not be employing in the next few years
Ba Trevor, typical of UPND pomp on the blog but when it comes to the crunks, you always find yourselves on the wrong side.
Which is a better evil, IMF or Anglo America?
Let’s face it, postponing the package from IMF simply because you want to be in the confortably zone doesn’t take away the matter at hand, so better get going, let’s swallow a bitter pill now and take advantage of of what the economic order will bring. This 1.2 billion you are so scared of may just be repaid in record time provided you do less talking but more diligent work, do you know what Germany went through before it became the economic power house of Europe? I wonder whetgwr this Trevor even understands NPV in it’s real sense.
Sad to try to compare 1940 Germany, which had a strong manufacturing base even then, with present day Zambia which imports everything…led by a corrupt regime that put us in this mess in the first place.
Ati we can get out of this loan in record time… are you forgetting the other $10 billion debt we have to pay back or the still to borrow debt that is coming as lungu and PF only know how to borrow.
I THOUGHT OTHERS HAVE BEEN SAYING EVERYTHING IS OK AND WE ARE ON TRACK. WHY DO WE NEED THE BAILOUT PACKAGE? NDELOLESHA FYE!
Trevor is another of these Zambian consultant hypocrites who wants Government expenditure on salaries controlled when he ran away from a GRZ job to go and earn more money as a consultant in a foreign country. I still remember very well how Trevor condemned UNZA lecturers for going on strike demanding higher pay. These are the hypocrites who want fellow educated Zambians to suffer in their own country whilst he himself earns more in another African country. Give us a break with your hypocrisy Trevor!!!
Trevor is not competent enough to tell us how negotiations with the IMF are done. The boy has no proper corporate experience and for his qualifications, he only has a BA and two so called post graduate diploma. He doesn’t even have an MBA and he calls himself an International Consultant.
Last time the speakerof the National Assembly ordered this ***** Chanda to stop commenting of on issues concerning the country’s economy after MPS brought it up but the bugger has started again and yet he just have a stupid certificate from Evelyn Hobe college.
Are you jealousy of him. I know the young man and he is not stupid. I doubt you are smarter than him.
Naiwe Trevor do not mislead people. And stop overrating yourself, you do not have any achievements to show that you understand this issue better than Amos. The last time l checked, he was just a spokesperson. So it does not take a scientist to note that he was just reporting. Talk talk talk…….
Amos is right. He knows what he is talking about. Zambians do not know how to put their country first and love to bash their own in defense of international organizations or foreign countries! Do you think it is to “help” Zambia that IMF wants to give money to Zambia? It is very sad that even the so-called educated Zambians cannot be truthful over the matter! Tell me if you will complete the conditions once you get entangled with IMF again! Tell me, how long will that take? Usually it never ends! If it had not been due to “debt forgiveness” before, Zambia would still be owing IMF over $7 billion dollars today.
He has a clue, in fact many clues than an outsider!
Just chipantepente chipantepante yapun8ng of PF. any loud mouth without knowledge of the subject matter can take the podium.
Ask them why we have 20% inflation or why we have no investors that they promised will be queuing and they blame China or ati it’s ‘grobo’.
Hopless theives.
indeed..this ka meno meno Amos is a moron..