GOVERNMENT has warned mining companies against threatening job cuts every time there is a policy change in the mining sector.
Mines, Energy and Water Development deputy minister Charles Zulu said Government will ensure that there is a win – win situation in the mining sector for both the investor and the people of Zambia.
“Government will ensure that the mining sector offers a win – win situation for both the custodian of the resources and the investor,” he said.
Mr Zulu added that Government is focusing on a stable policy for the mines that will ensure stability.
“Government will ensure that there is a stable policy for the mines but let me caution the mining companies not to resolve to threaten laying off of workers anytime there is a policy shift in the mining industry,” he said.
Mr Zulu was speaking during a dinner organised by the Copperbelt Mining and Agricultural Show organisers.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance has commenced preparations for the 2016 National Budget and the 2016-2018 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).
Ministry of Finance public relations officer Chileshe Kandeta said the Ministry have since invited members of the public to submit proposals for tax and non-tax revenue policy for the 2016 budget.
The consultation period which ends on July 31 2015 has been set to ensure that all citizens including youths, women groups and the private sector participate in the formulation of the 2016 Budget and the 2016 to 2018 (MTEF).
Mr Kandeta said his Ministry is steadfast in its resolve to ensure citizen ownership of the 2016 National Budget further stating that those representing interest groups are required to ensure that internal peer consultations with institutions which they represent are conducted.
“It is the Treasury’s held view that peer-level, internal and open consultations among stakeholders such as Zambia Chamber of Mines, ZNFU, Zambia Association of Manufacturers, ZACCI, Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants, JCTR, Civil Society For Poverty Reduction, Economics Associations of Zambia etc. should be held as they are an important ingredient of institutional and corporate governance. This is important because submissions which will finally be received by the Ministry of Finance should pass the internal litmus test, and have the support of the members of the respective stakeholder organization or interest group.”
And commenting on the initiative, Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba said the process is a non-partisan mission, but a pragmatic search for tax and non-tax policy consolidation, widespread employment creation and promotion of greater well-being of the people of Zambia.
Funny this move is indeed. Now that the PF has squandered all the borrowed money they want to involve all the stake holders who it sidelined when it borrowed the Eurobond and spend it on useless ventures.
Wapya munzi ndintu. When all the stake holders spoke against removal of subsidies and excessive borrowing, PF ‘s finance ministry labelled them as useless organisation not worthy listening to and instead went on a massive borrowing and spending spree.
Its now too late to involve them as a rubber stamp so PF can shift the blame to stake holders when financial situation is already bad and beyond redemption.
The big question is, will the PF agree to implement the following;
1. Reduce the cabinet by a third.
2. Cut the number of deputy ministers by half.
3. Cut the number…
Stakeholders will recommend that PF
4.Cuts number of districts.
5. Cut number of envoys abroad and just leave major ones.Eg in far East only Japan, China and South Korea should have embassies.
6. Do away with induced by elections.
7. Stop single sourcing suppliers because it breeds corruption.
What economic value and productivity do these small created districts with their numerous DC and their subordinates add to the Zambian economy apart from being a drain to borrowed money thats is supposed to be used to complete construction projects , revamp our main hospitals schools and universities? Zero
What economic value and productivity do these numerous deputy ministers(over 90) add to the Zambian economy apart from drawing hefty salaries and allowances out of borrowed…
7 Stake holders will recomment PF cuts politicians’ hefty allowances
and salaries to save money.
Is PF prepared to listen to some these recommendation I think the numerous stake holders government wants to consult will come up with?
Well lets wait and see if PF will listen at all.
Any recommendations that will fall short of what I have outlined above are useless and will not help the PF redeem Zambia’s dire financial dilemma.
If PF want to show donors that its serious with its economic restructuring programme to attract more funding then it should consider all of my recommendations. Failure to do so, no donor country will fulfill its pledge to support Zambia ‘s budget.
Sweden has just pledged but not released the funding pending serious economic stress tests…
Iwe chiwanzelu ulibe nzelu, you are a job seeker in UPND thats why you talk much against pf yet you are suggesting that your friends in gov’t be axed. Are you going to feed their families?fool
Just look .into the zesco tenders given to a few selfish individuals at a cost of k5000000 .All top zesco managers and individual persons from lumumba road.This is where unnessary money on inflated tender figures are been spent pa zed.investigative wings should check all govt tenders and there will find millions have been siphoned out by people who spend it on luxuries like cars .homes.