By IRVIN MUYUMBWA
THE under-declaration of production by mining firms and externalisation of their profits will deny Zambia economic benefits even as copper prices boom on the international market, Rainbow Party Secretary-General, Wynter Kabimba has said.
And Mr Kabimba has implored Zambians to respect decisions made by institutions of governance to ensure an orderly society irrespective of who is in power.
Mr Kabimba said the taxation system in Zambia was not structured in a proper way as the case was in countries such as Chile which were benefitting immensely from copper exports.
He said during an interview on Millennium Radio that under-declaration was hindering the country from benefiting from high copper prices. Mr Kabimba said mines in Zambia keep their money outside the country after selling the minerals and only bring a little for their recurrent expenditure.
“So how can Zambia benefit from the boom in copper prices?” he questioned.
Mr Kabimba said to change the narrative, the taxation system must be reformed by training specialised accountants and other staff to handle mine taxation. He said Government must support small-scale mining which was labour intensive.
And Mr Kabimba has implored Zambians to respect decisions made by institutions of governance to have an orderly society irrespective of who is in power.
Mr Kabimba said it was only the politicians out of their narrow and selfish interests that want to psyche the people purporting to speak for the public.
