DAR ES SALAAM, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian Minister for Finance and Planning Philip Mpango on Tuesday denied reports that the government has blocked publication of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) study on the east African nation's state of the economy.
Mpango told the National Assembly in the capital Dodoma that the government and the IMF were currently engaged in consultations to see how Tanzania's inputs could be accommodated in the final report.
According to procedures, the government shared its inputs over economic situation with an IMF team from November 26 to December 7 last year when the team visited the country, he told the House.
Mpango said after the Executive Board of the IMF discussed the report, a member country has 14 days to discuss on the report before giving its consent for publication.
He added that the IMF prepared its report but the government's inputs were not taken into consideration.
"Our current talks with the IMF are to see how the final report incorporates our views," said Mpango.
He said when he was in Washington, D.C. recently, he met the IMF Director for Africa, Abebe Selassie, and told him of Tanzania's concerns.
"And as I am speaking now consultations are still ongoing," said Mpango.
Mpango was reacting to a concern raised by an opposition Member of Parliament Frank Mwakajoka who questioned the government's silence over the report.
About five days ago, IMF posted a statement on its website saying, in part: "The authorities (in Tanzania) have not consented to publication of the staff report or the related press release."
Mwakajoka faulted the government over its failure to consent to publication of the report.
