TZ Govt. Denies Blocking Critical IMF Report

The Government of Tanzania has refuted reports that it has blocked a critical report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the country’s economy. 

According to the Minister for Finance and Planning Dr Philip Mpango, consultations between Tanzania and the IMF are continuing. His statement comes following an IMF statement last week in which it noted that Tanzania has not yet agreed to the publication of the report following the conclusion of its consultation with regards to surveying the country’s economic, financial and exchange rate policies. 

Dr Mpango further clarified that consultations were continuing in order to address the fact that the report had not taken some of the government’s views into account. Under IMF rules member countries have a period of 14 days for discussion of a report prior to its publication.

Opponents of the Government claim that the report has been blocked for its criticism of the policies of President Magufuli’s government and their negative impact on economic growth.

Reuters quotes a leaked copy of the report as stating, “Delays or little progress in implementing structural reforms, unpredictable and interventionist policies, and a rushed scaling-up of public investments that may not have a high rate of return will have a detrimental effect on growth and development.”