By Toby McIntosh
The International Monetary Fund, like the World Bank, is questioning a new provision in Tanzania’s statistics law that criminalizes the rebuttal of official government statistics, eyeonglobaltransparency.net has learned from the IMF.
“We are awaiting further information from the authorities about the implications of the amendments and any regulations that may be issued to operationalize them,” an IMF spokesperson told EYE Oct. 23.
The topic will be brought up the next time IMF officials visit Tanzania, which will be in December, she said.
“Like with most member countries, the IMF supports laws that ensure the production of high quality and transparent statistics as well as the use and analysis of official and non-official data by all stakeholders,” according to the IMF official.
The IMF provides “technical assistance to Tanzania on economic statistics (national accounts, balance of payments, monetary and fiscal statistics) and supports the full implementation of the different recommendations provided,” the official further noted.
The World Bank on Oct. 1 told EYE that the law is “out of line with international standards.” The Bank said it has “shared” its concerns with the Tanzanian government and is “in discussions” with Tanzanian officials. (See Eye article.) Since then, the Bank has had no comment on the matter. (See Eye update Oct. 11.)
The Bank said it considering “whether further support to building sustainable statistical systems is appropriate at this time,” calling into question a pending $50 million grant to support government statistical activities in Tanzania.
Amendments to the statistics law passed Sept. 10 criminalize the dissemination of “any statistical information which is intended to invalidate, distort or discredit official statistics.” Offenses are punishable by a $6,000 fine or a three-year prison sentence. (Text of the bill in June, see Part VII, page 8. President John Magufuli signed the bill Sept. 24.)
The government finance ministry sent out an e-mail Oct. 12 defending the changes to the law (Swahili) (Google Translate in English) followed a meeting held during the annual conference of the IMF and the World Bank in Bali, Indonesia.
Minister of Finance and Planning Philip Isdor Plan explained the law to the approximately 10 attendees, including Maxwell Mkwezalamba, a Malawian politician and economist who is the First Alternate Executive Director for Africa Group 1 Constituency, comprising 23 African countries (not an IMF staff or management team member). (See photos of the meeting in UpTymes.) Also at the meeting was Andrew Ndaamunhu Bvumbe, a Zimbabwe national who serves as an Executive Director representing the Africa Group 1 Constituency (AFG1) at the World Bank. Other matters were also discussed.
The statement says that in November the government will meet with development stakeholders to give them an opportunity to “fully understand” the purpose of the amendments.
The statement (in Google translation) says that the purpose of the amendment “is to simplify the research and delivery of research results and not to engage stakeholders in statistical information collection or to prevent cross-border discussion debate for official data outcomes.”
