IMF loan "not a done deal"

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has commended aspects of Tanzania's economic performance but has not promised the release in July of the second tranche of US $82m in loans for 1999 - contrary to some media reports, the IMF resident representative in Dar es Salaam, Tsidi Tsikata, told IRIN on Wednesday. "It's not a done deal, but we are close", Tsikata added.

A mid-term review mission, whose findings will determine the release of the financing has yet to complete its work, said Tsikata, adding that the government "has not shared enough of its intentions for us to make a judgement". While the mission was pleased with the government's broad macroeconomic policies, there was still concern over the pace of structural reforms and elements of the impending 1999/2000 budget to be discussed, Tsikata said.