By Michael Kaluba
Opposition Patriotic Front-PF- Kantanshi Member of Parliament Anthony Mumba has advised President Hakainde Hichilema to ensure he quickly engages in high level talks with the Chinese government so that Zambia’s debt restructuring program remains on course.
Mr. Mumba says he is surprised that china is reportedly frustrating Zambia’s effort to restructure its debt and contract an International Monitory Fund-IMF bailout package.
He argues that Zambia and china have had cordial relations over the years with china`s technological transfer into Zambia focal to the country’s infrastructure development.
The Kantanshi Parliamentarian says if this has been identified as reported in some sections of the media, Zambia must quickly address the concerns that have led to this situation and engage the Chinese government.
Mr. Mumba has also disagreed with some calls for the country to suspend its pursuit of the $1.4 billion IMF program and has proposed that if it means President Hakainde Hichilema traveling to china to meet that country’s president, he should do so.
According to UK Minister for Africa Vicky Ford, Zambia’s reorganization of as much as $17.3 billion of external debt is being delayed by a single foreign creditor.
PHOENIX NEWS