Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Former minister of finance, Felix Mutati says securing a financial bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has now become a matter of urgency.
Mr. Mutati says if Zambia does not secure the us$1.3 billion government is seeking from the IMF, there will be a significant deficit on the 2019 national budget.
Speaking during a public forum organized by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in Lusaka, Mr. Mutati said the 2019 national budget will actually unhinge.
He says the country therefore has no option, but to ensure that its engagements with the IMF result in among other things the rise in the confidence of investors in the Zambian economy.
He has also observed that the bad weather forecasted for 2019 also poses a risk to the Zambian economy as there is a likelihood that the agriculture sector and power generation will be affected.
Mr. Mutati further foresees the Zambian economy being affected negatively if the toxic conversation on alternative facts being generated within the country continues in 2019.
He has also observed the need to the deal with the risk of the pace of fiscal consolidation particularly with regards the implementation of the austerity measures.