President Outlines People’s Benefits From Mines

Stanslous Ngosa and Maya Ntanda

4 June 2011

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has said the Government will continue creating conditions that will enable effective administration of the tax system to ensure equitable and efficient benefits to the people.

And the president said the Government was considering building an international airport in Lusaka that will attract more investments and other business opportunities for the benefit of the citizenry.

He said because of the growing mining industry and high copper prices, issues surrounding taxation in the sector would be continuously revised.

President Banda said the high copper prices would mean more revenue for the Government and higher employment levels in the mining and other supporting industries.

“It is for this reason that my Government will continue creating conditions that will enable the Government to effectively administer a tax system that is equitable and efficient. Issues surrounding tax in the mining sector are under continual discussion,” Mr Banda said.

Speaking when he officially opened the 54th Copperbelt Mining, Agriculture and Commercial Show (CMACS) in Kitwe yesterday, President Banda said the Government would create a taxation system that would support the growth of the sector and benefit the people.

President Banda said the mining industry had emerged from a difficult period even stronger than it was and with the Government support, there has been a great inflow of investment into new mines and the expansion of existing ones.

Other mineral resources such as manganese, oil, uranium and nickel were being developed while explorations were also under way.

Mr Banda said the Government would continue putting up measures that would enable local and foreign investors take advantage of the enormous business opportunities.

The president encouraged investment not only in the traditional mining location but also in other potential regions of Zambia.

He commended the famers for producing another bumper maize harvest representing eight per cent increment from the 2010 farming season.

President Banda said it was not only maize that had recorded a bumper harvest but also wheat, soya beans and other crops had performed beyond above expectations.

There was need for the private sector to partner with the Government in addressing the challenge of crop storage facilities countrywide.

The Government had allocated K1 billion for the development of roads and bridges in the farm blocs that are being established in every province of the country.

“The Government also realises the importance of smooth intra-country transportation of input and produce, and export and input, we will not rest until all key routes of the country have been upgraded or constructed,” Mr Banda said.

Zambia was rich in natural resources and that all stakeholders should take advantage of the resources for the benefit of the people.

Mr Banda said he was impressed with the quality of the exhibits after having gone round the pavilions and that the theme for this year’s show is “Prosperity on the Copperbelt” and that there were many developmental programmes and projects that were underway for the sake of prosperity on the Copperbelt Province.

He said it was indeed fitting to talk about progress towards prosperity in the province and in the nation, especially now when the country was recording positive economic growth.

CMACS chairman Bill Osborne said this year’s show was a true reflection of the current economic resurgence on the Copperbelt and the country as a whole.

Mr Osborne said the show society had noted the surge in the economy over the past year on the back of a high copper price and that had meant that there was a great deal of development both by the Government and in the private sector.

He said there was also evidence of prosperity on the Copperbelt which had spread to North-Western Province which was an extension of the Copperbelt though a different province.

“This year’s show is a true reflection of the current economic resurgence on the Copperbelt and indeed of the whole country and we have been encouraged by the turn out of both exhibitors and visitors,” he said.

Mr Osborne also said the mining industry had grown from strength to strength over the past year and that this would be maintained over the next 12 months and beyond.

He said production was increasing steadily and that last year it was Kansanshi and Lumwana and now it were Chambeshi, Konkola North and Mkushi all adding to investment levels and production.

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