Maya Forstater

@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.

@martinhearson I've looked at budget speeches, budget highlights, ZRA docs. I haven't found it. Its a huge sum. But I can't find a mention

@MForstater speaking from my fieldwork experience, you cannot establish that Sampa had no basis w/o speaking to people in govt at the time

@martinhearson He must have had some basis. But no sign it is govt estimate. Its a huge #. Yet cited repeatedly as if credible & official

@MForstater @martinhearson @alexcobham . Good to able to examine. Just because a Minister says it not always "true". Look at Osborne's £8bn.

@iaincampbell07 @MForstater @alexcobham we're (well, I'm) not arguing about figure's accuracy, but whether its legit to cite it as govt est

@martinhearson @iaincampbell07 @alexcobham I dont think so. e.g. here 'Zambia believes' .... http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/tax/Beps/CommentsCAandAA_BEPS.pdf …