Zambia chamber of mines challenged to siding with the mining firms

THE ZAMBIA CHAMBER OF MINES HAS BEEN CHALLENGED TO STOP SIDING WITH MINING FIRMS IN THE COUNTRY WITH REGARDS TO THE WINDFALL TAX.
BUT GOVERNMENT HAS MAINTAINED THAT IT WILL NOT INTRODUCE THE WINDFALL TAX ARGUING THAT THIS WILL NEGATIVELY AFFFECT THE MINERAL EXPLORATIONS IN THE COUNTRY WHICH ARE KEY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MINING SECTOR.

ECONOMIC CONSULTANT BOB SICHINGA TOLD RADIO PHOENIX THAT THE ISSUE OF PAYING TAX IS AN OBLIGATION OF EVERY CITIZEN IF ZAMBIA IS TO REGISTER MEANINGFUL DEVELOPMENT.

HE CHARGED THAT THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND NATIONAL PLANNING DR SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE HAS TO DATE FAILED TO EXPLAIN TO THE ZAMBIANS WHY THE WINDFALL TAX SHOULD NOT BE REINTRODUCED.

AND MR SICHINGA HAS SINCE URGED POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE COUNTRY TO USE WINDFALL TAX AS A CRITICAL ASPECT TO DEFINE THEIR CAMPAINGS COME 2011 ADDING THAT ZAMBIA IS LOSING A LOT OF MONEY THROUGH NON PAYMENT OF THE WINDFALL TAX.
GOVERNMENT LAST YEAR SCRAPPED OFF WINDFALL TAX FOR THE MINING COMPANIES.
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