By GIDEON NYENDWA
GOVERNMENT must promote value addition in Mukula products so that the resource can benefit Zambians fairly through job creation and taxes, the 3rd Liberation Movement (3RLM) has said.
3rd LM president, Enock Tonga, said they would not allow any Mukula to be exported in raw form when he forms government.
He said rather than Mukula remaining unutilised, value addition was the way forward for Zambians to benefit immensely from the resource.
Mr Tonga said Mukula could be processed to make furniture and other timber products that could be exported to earn the country foreign exchange.
“What do we stand to benefit as a country if this continues,” he said.
He said his government would review all rules and regulations relating to important natural resources such as Mukula and empower youths with the mandate to cut and add value to the logs locally and later export them as finished products.
“That’s the only way the people of Zambia can start enjoying the benefits of having this natural resource,” he said.
Mr Tonga said value-addition would be imposed on all natural resources and minerals because the country has the capacity to add value to all the resources. He said that Zambia was blessed with abundance of natural resources but the country does not seem to benefit from them because of the selfish individuals who have entrusted foreigners to run critical sectors.
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