Maravi

Windfall tax will be revisited - Simuusa

Windfall tax will be revisited - Simuusa
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sat 01 Oct. 2011, 10:10 CAT

THE windfall tax will be revisited, says new mines minister Wylbur Simuusa. In an interview, Simuusa, who was one of the major proponents of the windfall tax during the last parliamentary session, said the PF government would meet mine owners to deliberate on the windfall tax.

"On the windfall tax, we will definitely sit down with all the stakeholders and reach a win-win situation because we know and we have been told even by the IMF International Monetary Fund and other people that our taxation in the mining industry is not adequate. So that has to be revisited and we will see how we can create that balance that will be satisfactory to everybody. Definitely that will be on the cards," said Simuusa, a mining engineer by profession.

"We need to know as a country how much we are mining; what is going out and what are the things we need to account for. So definitely the accounting of our minerals will be priority. We will obviously look at the issue of taxation for mining; we will see how we can create a win-win situation for the Zambians and for the foreign mine owners."

Simuusa, who is also Nchanga member of parliament, said the government would also look at the gemstone sector.

He said the sector must contribute to the Zambian economy.

"We will look at labour issues. There are a lot of labour issues related to mining," Simuusa said.

"We will look at the situation of having more of our Zambians getting into ownership and getting involved in running of mines so that even our people are in competition with the people that are coming in. We want to have more benefits from our mines."

Community development, mother and child health deputy minister Jean Kapata, who is also Mandevu legislator, thanked President Sata for having shown confidence in her.

Foreign affairs minister Chishimba Kambwili pledged to work towards strengthening Zambia's ties with the international community.

"The world is a global village, so I will make sure that Zambia keeps its relationship with our supporters, our cooperating partners and our neighbours. We shall ensure that we abide by the protocols that Zambia has signed with the international organisations," Kambwili said.

He committed himself to work hard and not let the Zambians and President Sata down.

Meanwhile, Inonge Wina, the parliamentarian for Nalolo constituency in Western Province who was appointed minister of chiefs and traditional affairs, said there was need to uphold Zambia's culture.

"I am grateful for that appointment and I will do my best to make sure I serve my country," she said. "I am very delighted and relieved that Barotseland activists have been released because most of those detainees had done no wrong. For them to be incarcerated has been extremely unfair."

Chipili member of parliament, who was appointed Luapula Province minister, Davies Mwila, called on opposition parliamentarians to work with the government to foster national development.

"I am excited about my appointment in that I am going back to my province and I would like to appeal to members of parliament from Luapula including the opposition MMD MP Mwansa Mbulakulima that we work together as a province so that we develop the area," said Mwila.

Defence minister Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba said he would perform to the best of his ability.

"It's a great ministry. There are a lot of challenges and I am humbled by this appointment by President Sata and I assure him that I will not let him down and I will not let the people of Zambia down," said Mwamba, who is also Kasama Central member of parliament.

Labels: CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI, GEMSTONES, IMF, INONGE WINA, JEAN KAPATA, WINDFALL TAX, WYLBUR SIMUUSA

posted by MrK @ 3:50 PM