Friday, March 29, 2024

Get your hands off the FQM fraud case, JCTR tells State House

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President Edgar Lungu(l) confers with the Vice President Inonge Wina(r).

The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has demanded that State House take its hands off the case US$1.4 billion ZCCM-IH and First Quantum Minerals fraud.

In a statement, JCTR believes that the case needs to be heard, and if need be, the mining giant pay the due sum to ZCCM-IH.

JCTR says this will send a strong warning to other institutions that are in a habit of defrauding the country and engaging themselves in suspicious activities that rob the country of billions.

It says it is grossly unjust for Government through Finance Minister Felix Mutati’s recent public statements to be urging Zambian’s to pay tax while big multinational companies are treated with kids gloves with regards to their tax obligations.

“We are dismayed by the media reports that statehouse has intervened in the court proceeding were ZCCM-IH had sued FQM for defrauding them of US$1.4 billion. If this is true, it basically validates speculations that the government shareholdings in the mining companies is compromised,” it says.

It added, “Our understanding is that governments objective in maintaining shareholding in the mining companies through ZCCM-IH is to safe guard and maximize the potential benefits from mining companies, while maintaining voting rights to influence decision making in Zambia’s mining sector.

 

However, the frequent changes in the fiscal policy governing the extractive industries and the recent case of state house inference in the FQM fraud case suggests that the government does not put the interest of the Zambians at the helm of all the decisions made thus far. The intervention in the $1.4 billion case basically shows that the autonomy of the ZCCM-IM to deliver this function is absolutely non-existent.”

It said what is further worrying is that there have been little to no facts presented to justify the states intervention on the matter, this is yet another dent in the transparency and accountably of Zambia’s mining sector.

“Intervention in the fraud case will not only entail that Zambia and its people will lose the much needed US1.4 billion for its social and economic investment, but will compromise other institutional efforts to curb illicit financial flows across deferent sectors amidst the turbulent economic and social times the country is going through,” it said.

63 COMMENTS

    • The big question is whose interests are they serving? They seem to be in the same group of Anti-government economic RAPlSTS and (HH) Boer clan sympathizers. Where are we going with these economic mercenaries?
      Zambia doesn’t need the level of hatred and propaganda being churned by the civil society of today. All this negativity for one small Kaponya ‘god’ who wakes up to the smell of his own pooh?

    • Really sad, you are attacking JCTR when they bring up a valid point, which if true then, it’s not being fair towards native business houses and something fishy must be going on.
      How does HH come into play in this case? You will fight and attack the opposition in order to defend ECL even where it doesn’t make any sense. Crazy.

    • Bo Inonge Wina seems to be so afraid of what has happened to the so called humble man. He is fast claiming every property the nation owns. he has even grabbed some Christians like Bishop Joshua Banda and others from Jesus and made them his own. Bishop Joshua Banda can’t believe it himself what has happened to himself- reduced to a PF cadre.

    • Lungu is a monstrous dictator. His hands are into everything – for control purposes. Wherever dictatorship shows its ugly head, there is always the fusion of the three organs of government (the Legislature, the Judiciary and the Executive). Public media also gets muzzled. That is a litmus test for a dictatorship.

    • Mining companies must pay correct taxes. I agree, Mr Mutati should not be telling us to pay tax whilst he is dragging his feet with mining companies. Corruption should not be tolerated in tax collections. The fight against corruption is everyone’s responsibility and government can not do it alone. Thats why when issues of this nature are raised we should all rally behind one another to uproot corruption. The only mistake JCTR has made is to link this issue to State House when they know who is responsible for taxes in this nation i.e the Finance Minister. Even when you have a point but if you bring in people who are not directly related to the issue, like HH and ECL and leave the person incharge (Finance Minister), people may wonder what your intentions are.

    • They pay their tax as individuals thats who they…its shame that your docile self ser nothing wrong with why some should be getting lightly.

    • They pay their tax as individuals thats who they are…its shame that your docile self can not see nothing wrong with why some one should be getting off lightly!!

    • Mutati is just there to protect Chikwanda’s corrupt legacy. The man has left the economy in a big mess especially mining, any serious govt will have to deal with him first.

    • Mr. Kudos…………you such an embarrassment to our country. Who ever these guys are, should be applauded for talking ON BEHALF more than 15 million Zambians who would benefit from the money owed by the mines. We are looking for almost the same amount from the IMF and you busy protecting these business guys with no morals. DO NOT JUST PROTECT YOUR BOSSES BECAUSE YOU ARE ENJOYING THE FRUITS OF CORRUPTION. The same mines have also been refusing to pay electricity tariffs agreed upon with ZESCO and the common man is paying for that. Today ZESCO can not even pay suppliers because the same mines you are supporting owe millions of Dollars.

    • @Iwee c1kala Kudo, ulekwata amano. Don’t just support blindly iwee kolwe. Someone has raised very serious issues concerning our country and you are there yapping like a mad dog. this is not about PF it is about the future of this country when your sick Lungu will have long gone. Why bring in UPND, does this concern UPND and HH. Your misplaced hate will surely consume you. How do you manage to be so dull!

    • Stop your Nonsense Kudos, PF can not be harassing other companies on Tax payments yet they let go big amounts not paid to the Government??? Just because they Paid people like Mutati. Its money for Zambians and let the case be heard. Whats wrong with you support things that don’t just make sense? Your silliness will kill you.

    • Didn’t PF sing from the podium that they do not interfere in court cases,so whats this? Why Zambian leaders shake before whites is beyond me! You can free a slave but you can’t take the slave mentality from their minds.

    • Lets put a STOP by organising mass protest, opposition, students, civil society, progressive media on the match. Future generation will wonder how dull are to have sold ALL the silver for the love of suites and hates (endazu).
      It is inspiring to note what South Africa proposing. At a presentation in Pretoria, mining minister Mosebenzi Zwane confirmed plans to raise the minimum level of black ownership of South African mines from 26pc to 30pc, to be split among employees, communities and entrepreneurs.

      South Africa has long been committed to having some of the profits from mining flow to disadvantaged communities under its Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) rules.

      But the new charter appears to go further by mandating that black ownership remains at 30pc, even when the original BEE…

  1. @Mr Kudos,The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection is a research, education and advocacy team that promotes study and action on issues linking Christian Faith and social justice in Zambia.In this particular case,leaders want to use state institutions to STEAL from Zambians by making deals.

  2. I always told you, pray with lungu, but keep one eye open. You didn’t want to listen.

    FQM helped Lungu buy 17% Govt shares in ZCCM-IH through Israeli Agent called Sapir Group in exchange for squashing the $1.4 Billion fraud case & firing of ZCC-IH CEO Pius Kasolo.

    That’s the reason he traveled to Israel in March this year. As 17% shareholder of ZCCM-IH, Lungu is technically the richest lazy Zambian.

    How can you sell 17% of ZCCM-IH for $100million when it has such cases & other cases against KCM? Besides that ZCCM-IH has the following shareholding in the following companies:
    20% in Kansanshi mine
    10% in Mopani mine
    20% in Lubambe mine
    15% in NFCA PLC mine
    15% in Chibuluma copper mine
    10% in Chambeshi Metals
    20% in CNMC Luanshya mine
    15% in Maamba coal mine & Thermal…

    • YOU EXPECT SOMEBODY WHO CHEWED CLIENTS MONEY TO WHOLE OF A SADDEN BECOME AN “ANGEL”. ZAMBIA THE REAL SLEEPING AFRICA WHERE ALL INTERNATIONAL THIEVES GATHER TO RIP OUR RESOURCES. WAKE UP, YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO BE SEEKING ANSWERS NOW!

  3. $1.4 Billion is a lot of money. We are going to IMF trying to borrow the same amount of money when we have an opportunity to get it from within the country.

    • That is the best you can “think” as justification for PLUNDERING???
      You must be experienced wanker using d1ck-head for reasoning!!!

  4. This is fake news. Who issued the statement on behalf of the JCTR???? Why do Zambians take everything they see in the media as gospel truth. There could be some truth in the statement issued but the statement is not signed by anyone and you believe it that it was issued by the JCTR?

  5. These morons want to borrow $1.6billion instead of just getting this $1.4billion that was stolen by FQM. Where is the logim if I may ask? Its either this visionless visionary wants to get a kickback for himself and let the country lose our hard earned money. Mutati is another rabid dog who wants us to pay taxes to the bone and yet he is failing to collect this money from FQM. Wait until these goons ransack our treasury and all the dununa reverese crap these minions yap about all the time take this country 50 years backwards.

    • I HAVE ALWAYS SAID WE ARE NOT POOR, WE ARE JUST HAVE THIEVES LEADING US, WHERE DOES ONE HAVE THE COURAGE OF INTERVENING IN A $1.4BN CASE. NOT EVEN PA FARM PANYOKO WILL SHE ACCEPT THIS NONSENSE. WE NEED AN OBJECTIVE REVIEW AND WHERE POSSIBLE AN INQUIRY INTO HOW MUCH IS BEING PRODUCED –
      QUANTITY AND DOLLAR TERMS. HOW MUCH IS GOING TO THE TREASURY AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES? WHO ARE THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THEIR ROLE. FOR INSTANCE WHAT ROLE DOES THE SCHOOL MINES PLAY IN PLANNING AS WELL AS MONITORING ACTIVITIES. ARE UNIONS INDEPENDENT, COMPETENT AND PATRIOTIC?

  6. Bo Inonge see the problems you have created for this country for supporting Lungu at Mulungushi? We have never seen this. Pf under Lungu are very immature we miss Sata this is not what he fought for by forming PF.

  7. I have to agree with JCTR on this, the big mining firms must pay what their owing. Just a 10 percent of their tax bill if paid is equivalent to what all small businesses pay in a year. How fair is this where taxes are waived for big multinationals for over 5 years and you give small firms only 3 months??? Let’s be serious people! Now if there was a serious opposition to raise these issues but alas we are lacking in that dept because the main opposition have been hijacked by hateful, bitter and petty cretins! Every state needs a working opposition which is sadly lacking here!

    • Thats because the opposition is met with violence and jail by a corrupt regime cheered on and supported by corrupt suppoters who only see tribe ……

    • @ 2020vision

      Great news. You have finally managed to open and see through your left eye. Great improvement. Now you must open your right eye and justly proportionate numbers of cretins to where they belong. Start with Terrible, Kudos and the gang before moving to the leading members of PF “inteligentsia” (lol) like M. Phiri, Frank (the Antichrist) Bwalya, Chanda’s and please do not forget “Doctor” Lusambo.
      At the end, you may be able to see the proverbial light at the end of this tunnel of horrors.

  8. In Tanzania the president is in the forefront directing the investors to pay the assessment of unpaid taxes of under declared proceeds.
    Here in Zambia it’s the opposite.
    Which president is benefiting from the loot???

  9. JCTR IS EXEMPT FROM PAYING TAX TO ZRA, BUT THEY ARE VERY FAST IN TELLING MINING COMPANIES PAY, THERE WAS A COURT CASE THAT WAS STOPPED , MAYBE THE STATE SAW THEY DIDN’T HAVE A HOPE OF WINNING. ALSO MINING COMPANIES LIKE FQM EMPLOY MANY ZAMBIANS SHOULD THEY CLOSE THEN A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS, REMEMBER COPPER IS NOT ON THE BOIL AT THE MOMENT.
    ITS TIME ALL CHURCH’S START PAYING TAX LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

  10. They closed the Post Newspaper for failing to settle its liabilities yet the mine wants tax fraud case waived by the government.
    Let all Zambians pay tax for our development. All investor must pay tax too. Paying tax must not a question of who is closer to the President or ruling party. In fact , if I was closer to the President , I was going to an example of a best citizen in terms of paying taxes.
    This is like a Pastor who returns tithe and offering to demonstrate that tithing is the best principle in systematic benevolence.

    • We have surpassed Zimbabwe given the rate of deterioration in terms living standards, health/stress, trust, division, freedom, the list goes on.

  11. So FQM is a convict already that is why Lungusha intervened? Ubupuba bwena tabasumika, even Nursery School Going Babies are able to read between the lines of meno ya mbeba and the pretense that the law must take its cause, in this case the law has taken Lungusha’s pockets.

  12. Lungu and his fellow wants to loot the $1.4 billion and prejudice the National Treasury. Under Lungu’s watch there is Rampant corruption in the MMD/PF govt. They looted the Eurobond money and they want to take a Bribe from FQM. In the meantime these looters are looking forward to the $1.6 Billion Loan. The IMF should not lend $1.6 billion to the corrupt and illegitimate govt which doesn’t respect Rule of Law,Good Governance, Constitutionalism and Human Rights. With HH incarcerated and being persecuted No IMF Loan, Western Financial Assistance and Foreign Investors.

  13. I am glad I do not live out there in Zambia where you are paying tax for Lungu to party Dununa Reverse style or indeed kanyo ka Mumbi-Phiri to leg off to Joburg to abort Chagwa Agwa’s foetus!

  14. @timberlife… even if it’s fake news about JCTR. Me as a zambian want to know why
    state house ordered the court to stop.
    Why must government borrow when we are owed money from our own mines.
    I smell something fish in top PF.

    • Where , in lungus bank account ???

      Hehehehe you know, sometimes feeding on corruption really corrupts all senses.

  15. Of course to UPNDonkeys, U5 is an “asset” whatever that means. But to the rest of us he has moved from “economic manager” to a reckless, unwise criminal elenent that is rightly in Mukobeko awaiting treason trial.

    • Hehehehe

      mr terrible,

      The thread is about lungu corruptly cancelling that court case.

      It stinks of corruption. And you want to divert our attention ??

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