FODEP asks govt to publish resolution of Mineral Royalty Tax regime

FODEP Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi

Government has been called upon to make public the resolution over the 2015 Mineral Royalty Tax regime now that the period set for consultations has elapsed.

President Edgar Lungu last month directed the Ministers of Finance and Mines to make changes to the mine tax regime by April 8^th, following an outcry by mining companies.

FODEP Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi has told QFM News that government should make public what it has resolved on the mining tax regime especially that people are anxious to know.

Mr. Chipenzi says FODEP believes keeping quite on the matter defeats the principle of accountability considering that the directive to make changes to the mining tax regime was made public.

He states that FODEP would like to see democratic accountability sustained in the country where government and elected public officials begin to provide feedback on their activities to the electorates.

Mr. Chipenzi says such practices will build a more democratic Zambia where citizens are free and willing to participate in the social, economic and political affair of the country.

He adds that this will also result in having a government that is accountable to its policy pronouncements and implementation.