Maya Forstater

@martinhearson @vijramachandran @alexcobham right, but is one politician saying something the same as a 'government estimate'

@MForstater @vijramachandran @alexcobham it'd be nice to have more to go on than a throw away remark, but the remark is there nonetheless

@martinhearson @alexcobham I agree he said it. But it is unfeasibly big , basis never published or backed up & not a govt estimate

@MForstater @alexcobham @vijramachandran i happen to think that the finance minister of Zambia is a better authority on this than you or me

@martinhearson @alexcobham I think ppl shld be able to question finance ministers & media should be accurate and clear about sources of data

@MForstater But if you don't like something a govt minister says and can't Google the working, can't just say "so it's not a govt figure"

@martinhearson I think it is fair enough to tentatively assume something not a govt figure if u find no reference for a govt doc as source?

@MForstater It's often impossible to find African countries' basic budget docs online. If you want to rule it out you'd need to go there.