Govt says Socialist Party leader, M’membe, spreading falsehood regarding a purported $110 million loan

State House has denied allegations by the Socialist Party president, Fred M’membe, that government is in the process of borrowing US$110 million from the World Bank to double the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Clayson Hamasaka, State House Chief Communications Specialist, said allegations of plans to double CDF to K56 million, US$3 million per year, from 2024 to 2026 were false.

“We have not been informed about such a loan, and in any case, the World Bank always widely publishes details of approved loans on its own,” Hamasaka said in a statement on Wednesday.

This follows an article by M’membe on social media claiming that the World Bank is planning to lend Zambia US$110 to double CDF to K56 per year from 2024 to 2026.

Read more: Politicians must be prevented from high-jacking CDF projects for their selfish ends —Jesuit Centre

But Hamasaka says that with M’membe’s experience, he should be aware of the loan acquisition process, which requires parliamentary approval.

“Considering Fred’s extensive experience in the media, one would expect him to be more accurate in disseminating information by conducting proper fact-checking, rather than spreading falsehoods, which is, by the way, a crime.

“In this day and age, a simple Google search for a few minutes would yield a wealth of information. So, where is Fred obtaining these falsehoods that he is busy sharing in an attempt to mislead the public?” Hamasaka said.

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