PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has assured the International Monetary Fund that the days of corruption and misappropriation of public funds are gone.

In a statement President Hichilema shared on his Facebook page, Friday, said government would prudently and transparently utilise the $1.3 billion given under the special drawing rights.

“In our meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Ms Kristalina Georgieva, we laid out our strategic plan aimed at economic restoration in our Country. We informed the IMF that our government will prudently and in a transparent manner utilize the US$1.3bn given under the special drawing rights for Covid19 window. Days of corruption and outright misappropriation of public funds are gone. We are confident that together with such cooperating partners, as a country, we will be able to navigate the debt mountain,” said President Hichilema.

“The IMF’s role in the international monetary system will come in handy. We also informed them of our focus on small business enterprises, the environment and climate change in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Once these measures are in place, our country’s economic development will begin to bear fruits for all including that child in Chief Kambombo of Eastern Province, in Mununga among other places.”