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The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection says government lacks the fiscal discipline required to manage VAT refunds to mining companies and other exporters. Last Thursday, finance minister Alexander Chikwanda announced in Parliament that the government had realigned the provisions of VAT Rule 18 on proof of export requirements to ensure …

FIRST Quantum Minerals says the mining fiscal regime will put the company’s ability to meet various debt financing obligations at risk, which would curtail expansion programmes and halt further investment. And FQM, the owners of Kansanshi Mine in Solwezi, has recorded a decrease in gross profits for the 2014 financial …

ZEMA has deferred the approval of KCM’s slag dump project because the mining giant has failed to provide information on radioactive materials associated with the project. And the Zambia Environmental Management Agency has approved 43 projects, deferred 13 in mining and quarry-related projects and rejected two project proposals. In a …

“THE revised mines and minerals Act will guarantee participation of Zambians in mining”, says mines minister Christopher Yaluma. Yamula plans to present the revised law to Parliament, which resumes its sitting today.“We have concluded everything and it will be tabled before Parliament,” he said. The revised law was due to be presented …

THE Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection has called for good leadership and consistent economic policy from the new government over mine taxes.JCTR stated that leadership exhibited on the impasse surrounding the new mining tax regime does not inspire confidence and is a source of concern. JCTR wondered if the new …

NATIONAL Council for Construction executive director Charles Mushota says the government should this year award more contracts to local contractors in the road sector to help salvage the falling kwacha. And Mushota says the National Council for Construction (NCC) has this year put aside K8 million for 21 training programmes …

By Hicks Sikazwe Zambia will not reverse the 20 percent mineral tax implemented last month, despite protests from mining firms operating in the country. The government has maintained that the revised rates from three to eight percent for underground mining and six to 20 percent for open pit operations was …

By Potipher Tembo THE controversy surrounding the reopening of Zambia’s largest zinc and lead mine located in Kabwe, Central Province, has persisted for too long and should be resolved. The mine was closed way back in 1994 for economic reasons and has been a centre of controversy as many conglomerates …

By Potipher Tembo SOON after being elected, Zambia’s sixth president, Edgar Lungu has been challenged by citizens living in mine areas to pay more attention to their problems. Those who talked complained that for a long time now, they had not benefited from the mineral wealth. They said now that …

ZESCO’S performance has been poor, energy minister Christopher Yaluma said yesterday after announcing the appointment of Victor Mundende as Zesco’s new managing director. Mundende has replaced Cyprian Chitundu, whom Yaluma said would be redeployed in the Ministry of Energy. The changes at Zesco management comes barely two days after Yaluma …