Phoya schools ‘ignorant’ MP Mangulenje, IMF not a donor
Leader of the House Henry Phoya took time to school lawmaker Peter Mangulenje that International Monetary Fund (IMF) is not a donor organisation but a world lender.
Mangulenje, MP for Zomba Chisi, told the House that President Joyce Banda government which has been in power for only two months “has already let Malawians down by agreeing to everything that donors say, especially IMF who give us assistance with tough conditions, which as a result, oppress poor Malawians further.”
But rising on a point of order, Phoya said he expected Parliament to be full of what would be considered to be the cream of Malawi “in terms of knowledge and exposure.”
“It becomes a point of concern when Members keep referring to the IMF as a donor. The IMF is not a donor. IMF is simply an advisor, a financial advisor to the government,” said Phoya who is also Minister of Lands and Housing.
“So, to allege that by listening to the advice given to this government by the IMF we are listening to donors, is exhibiting some kind of ignorance and some of us are getting quite concerned with ,” he said attracting laughter.
Meanwhile, Ruby Randall, IMF resident representative for Malawi says the passing of the 2012/13 national budget by parliament will be crucial to the approval of the new IMF program for Malawi by the Fund’s executive board.
Last week the Fund said it had reached a staff-level understanding with Malawi on an economic program for three that could be supported by a new Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement in the amount of SDR104 million (about US$157 million).
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