Government has called for prudent management of the Country’s mining industry to boost economic growth and Poverty alleviation.
Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga says all the economic policies being implemented by government can only be attainable if the country effectively manage and benefits from its Mineral wealth.
Mr. Kamanga said this in a Speech read on his behalf by Kitwe District Commissioner Binwell Mpundu during the official opening of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative -EITI- dissemination workshop for the 2015 Reconciliation Report.
And EITI National Coordinator Siforiano Banda noted that Zambia has remained
poor despite over 100 years in mining due to mismanagement and lack of accountability in the extractive industry.
Mr Banda said the development agreements signed by government with some mining conglomerates lacked accountability and transparency to allow the Country derive maximum benefits from its mineral wealth.
And Mr. Mpundu called for the enactment of a special legislation to compel mining companies to contribute towards the development of communities in their areas of operation.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Mines Assistant Director Joseph Nyimbiri called for accountability in the extractive industry to enhance economic growth.
And speaking at the same function Publish What You Pay Copperbelt Chapter Chairperson Kayula Mubanga urged members of the public to utilize the report to demand for development from government.