ZAMBIA DISMISSES OBASANJO’S CLAIMS

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 09:10:15 +0000

By NATION REPORTER

ZAMBIA has reacted sharply to assertions by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo that the country had inconsistent mining policies.

Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba says Zambia takes great exception to remarks by President Obasanjo who was speaking at the on -going Africa Mining indaba in Cape town in his capacity as chairperson of Brenthurst Foundation.

Mr. Mwamba stated that contrary to the former Nigerian leader, who is also the current chairman of Brenthurst Foundation, Zambia’s mining policy has been under revision to ensure that it responded to the needs and aspirations of its people for the benefit of the country and local communities.

He described General Obasanjo’s statement as divisive and untrue, urging him to refrain from making such statements more so as he was an African leader of eminent standing.

Mr. Mwamba noted that the foundation which President Obasanjo was representing was known to have actively engaged a negative agenda against Zambia. Zambia is among countries that are participating at the Africa Mining Indaba that has attracted 220 mining companies and 350 investors and government leaders from across the world. Mines Minister Christopher Yaluma is leading a delegation of senior government officials and chief executives from the mining sector in Zambia who include Deputy Secretary to Cabinet Christopher Mvunga, ZCCM-IH chief executive officer Dr. Pius Kasolo and Mr. Mwamba, among others.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mwamba says economic performance remains impressive and that the country was implementing through the Ministry of Finance, a medium-term debt strategy to resolve concerns around the country’s public debt.

He said the Medium-Term Debt Strategy (2017-2019), which was developed by the Ministry of Finance would serve as an important tool in guiding decision making with regard to prudent debt management.

Mr. Mwamba noted that Zambia was keen to attain the target of being a prosperous middle-income nation by 2030.

He added that it was for this reason that Zambia’s impressive economic performance was recently echoed by SADC Peer Review Team Leader Abna Dlamni.

Mr. Mwamba said it is for this reason that international rating agency Moody’s upgraded Zambia’s rating from negative to stable.

He explained that this was due to reduced government liquidity pressures and a slowdown in debt accumulation.

Mr. Mwamba said the government had put up policy choices that included balancing social development expectation and the country’s fiscal sustainability .

as well as boosting domestic resource mobilisation through modernisation and enhancement of tax compliance levels from 60 percent to 80 percent and above.

He said that President Edgar Lungu had guided the public service to ensure that labour intensive options are taken into account in the implementation of the economic diversification drive.

This is according to a press statement made available  by Zambia High Commission First in South Africa First Secretary Press and Public Relations Naomi Nyawal