Government has allayed fears that the recruitment of health workers and teachers will not go ahead under this year’s national budget because of delays in accessing the US$1.4 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
For the country to access the money, it needs an assurance from its creditors that its unsustainable US$17 billion external debt can be restructured.
Ministry of Finance officials last Thursday met for the first time in an official committee of the country’s international lenders led by China. However, the approval of the anticipated IMF-supported programme has been stretched from June to later in the year to allow official creditors under the G20 Common Framework to make credible assurances.
There has been speculation as to the fate of the health workers, teachers and Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Credit: Zambia Daily Mail
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