Mining firms are still adamant about paying the new taxes proposed by government.
The Chamber of Mines has strongly argued that the new tax regime will undermine operations and sustainability of the mining industry.
Chamber of Mines General Manager, Frederick Bantubonse, made these remarks when his delegation appeared before the parliamentary estimates committee in Lusaka.
The mining investors have proposed an urgent meeting with government to review the levels of taxation before effecting the new tax.
Mr. Bantubonse and his team argued that the tax regime agreed upon through constructive dialogue will serve the interests of Zambians and the mining industry.
However, committee members led by Lusaka Central Patriotic Front Member of Parliament, Guy Scott critised the investors' delegation whom they accused of having returned to the committee in a very aggressive and confrontational manner.
The committee members were concerned that the mining investors had not made any proposals on the levels of taxation on their second return to the committee.
This prompted committee Chairperson, Godfrey Beene to direct the delegation to go back and consolidate their proposals on the tax regime to be resubmitted by Saturday.
The committte is expected to table its report on the proposed tax regime next Tuesday.
The mining firms that were represented include Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), First Quantum Minerals and Chambeshi NFC among others.
[ZNBC]
When is the government wasting time with these guys?
“why is ….
The only reason why Levy’s GRZ is wasting time with these infestors is because they were paid off during the first agreements where they came up with the Development Agreements that have been an enslavement chain around the nation.
What were the itemized terms of Development Agreement?
Let these infestors go if they so wish & we shall run our mines!!!
Thats why…….
The new mining taxes are not negotiable, do we negotiate when the Pay as You Earn go up.these guys are just crazy,you dont negotiate the taxes.they have to wait 4 the next years budget if at all any review of tax can be done.
Its either they abide by the new tax or wait to renegotiate or they go.
Bantubonse is just a two faced person,He puts the interest of infestor than ordinary zambians.Chile mining tax is 51% why cant mining comapies complain? When there is an increase in profit of any company there is an increase in payment as simple as that.If theminig tax is high then let them leave.
It is really sad that we have people like Fred Bantubonse defending the interests of investors against those of his own country. Levy should just have told the investors the matter was not negotiable instead of giving them false hopes by inviting them to talk. Be bold man.
Fred Bantubonse and chamber should not hold Zambians at ransom. It seems they are buying time in view of the month of April when the tax regime is to be effected is quickly approaching. We can’t be watch the natural resources such as minerals being mined and sold at a huge profit largely to the benefit of investors. We have rights over these resources and we are right to demand for equitable sharing of benefits arising from their exploitation.
Fred Bantubonse and his fake investors should go to hell. Taxes are not negotiable. Let them go and invest where there is no tax. I understand Fred’s desparation, the man is playing “overtime”. He misused all his terminal benefits from ZCCM and was a destitute before he was given the job by the chamber of mines.
Abena Original Pundit & Easy,
You have been UNIP vigilantes now turned into barking pundits while UNIP is sinking deeper and deeper. Where are your skills, qualities and zest you had when UNIP was in power and you kept weeping Zambians who refused to buy UNIP membership cards?Leadership dedication are tested in adversity.Learn from some us who are stuck with President Sata in all seasons. Now hear KK pouring his heart.
“KK counsels UNIP leadership”
DR Kenneth Kaunda has castigated the Tilyenji-led UNIP leadership for its failure to organise the former ruling party into a formidable force in the country.
Commenting on UNIP cadres’ attacks on The Post journalists earlier in the week, Dr Kaunda asked the party leadership to begin reorganising UNIP instead of resorting to violence and attacking innocent journalists.
“I can only ask the UNIP leadership to go all out and organise the party’s supporters according to the party’s constitution because UNIP is currently not properly organised,” Dr Kaunda said. “They are required to do that. Zambia is a very big country…if only the UNIP leadership could follow the example of the founding leade
Dr Kaunda reminded UNIP leaders that the party was founded on non-violent practices. “That is the more reason why we carry the picture of that great son of the world Mahatma Gandhi because he guided us in Southern Africa and India on how to fight for our liberation using non-violent methods.
But his idea failed in South Africa because the white settlers were violent and our black comrades from South Africa had no choice but to pick up arms,” Dr Kaunda said. “But remember, Zambia under UNIP leadership helped in the liberation struggle using non-violent methods by bringing the white settlers to talk to our colleagues from the ANC. We condemned the white settlers’ violence and following our co
We condemned the white settlers’ violence and following our condemnation, they stopped.”Dr Kaunda advised UNIP cadres to engage their leaders peacefully if they found that something was going wrong instead of resorting to violence because violence would not resolve any of their problems.Dr Kaunda also asked the UNIP leadership to read The Post’s recent editorial comments on their party, which he said contained good guidance for them.”This is now the second time we have seen The Post write guiding editorial comments on UNIP. Let them read these editorial comments with seriousness in order for them to do the right things,” said Dr Kaunda.
The Post editorial of February 27 stated: “If UNIP does not move quickly to sort out its leadership crisis, it runs the risk of being extinct. The problems UNIP is facing today are not necessarily as a result of its membership, it’s because of its poor leadership. It is the party leadership that has failed and not its membership.
“Of course leaders lead, but in the end the membership determine the future of the party. There is a lot of work UNIP need to do to bounce back to power, to see a reversal of fortunes.”
While UNIP is sinking, you are here aimlessly day in and out.Without Ground works, cyber rhetoric is rubbish. A party depends on its members to realize its goals.
Sorry UNIP lost it when KK put his son, the party has lost taste, flavor and does not belong to this age in politics period.Let them do their member a favor “close shop” let the member join growing parties like PF, UPND, ULP, etc.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 28, 2008; Page A03
The House of Representatives brushed aside threats of a White House veto yesterday and voted 236 to 182 in favor of an $18 billion tax package that would rescind a tax break for the five biggest oil companies and use the revenue to boost incentives for wind and solar energy and energy efficiency.
NOW, HERE IN ZAMBIA THESE FOOLS THINK THEY CAN CHALLENGE THE GOVERNMENT ON ITS DECISION TO RESCHIND THE TAX REBATES THAT STINKING THIEF CHILUBA GAVE THEM! WE’LL SEE WHO WILL END UP PAYING THE APPROPRIATE SHARE OF THEIR TAX. IF THEY HAVE QUALMS, LET THEM GO TO CHILUBA, HH AND VALENTINE CHITALU.
GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT WASTE TIME ON THIS ISSUE,LET THESE INVESTORS PAY TAX.
Tax in non-negotiable, very greedy *****s …. when our copper is finished they will just dump us.So Pay or ship.
The government should hold ground. if the greedy bustards are not interested, let them go?
I feeI betrayed by Kantukonse. Such guys should not even be given a platform to discuss. It is share waste of time. Our resources are OUR OWN RESOURCES. Those who are not willing to pay, pack and go back to your countries. Mwanya you not run away with this. *****S
The tax issue is not negotiable.nor debatable. Levy should tell them NO-period. The people of Zambia have refused. If they insist, I agree with Scott we should have mass demostrations!!!!!
Infact when the gvt is increasing PAYE it does not negotiate with tax payers or invite them to state house for dinner to discuss, it just increase and announce immediately. WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT THOSE INFESTORS!!!
What ia wrong with these guys, they only want everything to themselves, 1000% profit and not paying tax, greedy bustards, i wonder why Govt is inviting them for counter proposal, did they inform us all the time they made huge profits when the price of copper went up. We just want our share of OUR RESOURCES PERIOD.
Ba Chapi(12), finshi fyashupa kanshi ?? refering to us as “barking pundits” is not language i would ascribe to you !!
ummmmmmh ??!!
i would like to see these “infestors” resist further and carry out the obvious salient threats of leaving !!they are stuck with us and whilst we may concede to deferred taxation arrangements the tune we are now playing needs to be danced to!!!
“When you want to kill a Snake,just kill it.Don’t appoint a Committee on how to kill a snake”-Unknown.This issue is not negotiable.Period.
Mining investors,if you are not happy about the tax,please,you very very free to pack and go back to your countries of origin.I am sure that,our minerals will remain here.don’t waste our time!!mulibayanga .
YOU INVESTERS PAY OR PACK,ZAMBIA IS OUR COUNTRY.
I definitely agree with most of all the comments in here. When these investors make profits, the don’t complain, so why should they make noise when it comes to us benefiting. Elyo uyo Bantubonse, let him know that TAXES are not negotiable. I think some Zedians, Like him , are out to fatten their pockets than to see all the pipo benefit from the little resources around us.
There is no where in ze world where a particular group of people or business object to a law passed by parliament and, Uh imwe mwa banthu, govt says bring your proposal? Aba banthu bose mba kambwe? Parlmt commt and infestors bose they dont know what they r doing. It is illegal for someone to say I dont agree wit ze tax, so I wont pay! then Govt of laws says, enya now give us your suggestion! Is this real oro panyake I am not just understanding? ah imwe mwabanthu chalo chanangika! Bafumepo pa udindi a MMD panyake JADEPA wangayezyako! I will revamp Chama Chakomboka’s party it was more progresive! akwa aba banthu mbakufuntha, balije mahala, bakutisokosela, mbathakati, Kupusa shaa! Naluta phele!
AZozo Vyasuzya(33),
Muli achindele kwena. Mwati zeru mulinazyo mwe?Mayoboyo inu yali zeee kwambula namuchele. Kasi imwe, mbanjani mukhumba babe paudindi ya chalo chithu? Chalo chithu Nchonyong’omela tingashila nyimbwa zambula zeru ngati imwe yai!