The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) have signed contracts that will see the development of the Mineral Value Chain Monitoring Framework.
The signing of the contracts marks the second stage in the implementation of the Mineral Value Chain Monitoring Project (MVCMP) that the Government through ZRA has embarked on, after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding among the Government implementing agencies.
And Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba who graced the signing ceremony that took place in Lusaka has observed that implementation of the Project will ultimately enhance revenue contribution from the mining sector to the Treasury.
Mr. Yamba says government will continue to implement appropriate measures aimed at ensuring that the Zambian people receive a fair and sustainable share of the proceeds from their country’s natural resources.
He states that it is government’s continued commitment to undertake this aspiration in a win-win sustainable, transparent and accountable manner for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Speaking at the same event United Nations Resident Coordinator Janet Rogan who spoke on behalf of UNCTAD said the MVCMP was expected to enhance capacity to appreciate and explain significant growth in mining activity and consequently in mineral royalty revenue collection and would improve the Government’s capacity to identify challenges along the Mineral Value Chain, resulting in inefficiencies in the monitoring of mining activities.
Ms. Rogan has expressed sadness that despite the mining sector being the mainstay of the Zambia’s economy it is only generating around 2% of employment.
And ZRA Commissioner General Berlin Msiska has urged all stakeholders to take the System which is Web based as their own product and recognize that it would only be as good as the input they collectively provide towards its attainment of the set objectives.
Meanwhile Norwegian Ambassador to Zambia Arve Ofstad says he has been observing the continuous distrust existing in Zambia within the mining sector, between the mining companies, parts of the Government, various political actors, the media and the civil society, even the academicians.
This is contained in a statement released to Qfm News today by the ZRA corporate communications unit.
Surprising how govt agents are convinced that Zambia is not getting enough from mining. If they don’t know the truth, then who does? This is sheer incompetence by these cadres. I bet this project like many in the past will not substantially enhance revenues from mining.
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