Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The opposition Alliance for Development and Democracy (ADD) has accused Government of concealing the magnitude of the problem in the mining industry.
ADD President Charles Milupi says he suspects government has also realized that there is very little it can do about the problem in the mining industry.
He notes that this is evidenced by how President Edgar Lungu has now taken a political route by issuing statements to show that he is doing something about the problem when in fact not.
Charles Milupi
Mr. Milupi has told Qfm News by telephone that this also explains why mining companies have continued on path of winding up operation despite the recent meetings the President held with them.
Mr. Milupi states that by laying off workers and placing their operations on care and maintenance, mining companies are merely making business decisions.
He says there is need to address fundamentals of the economy that are causing sectors of the economy such as Mining, Agriculture and Manufacturing to be under stress.
He adds that what is even more unfortunate is that the PF government missed the opportunity to raise enough reserves when global copper prices were high by refusing to introduce windfall tax.
Mr. Milupi notes that had these taxes been introduced in the mining industry, the government would have had enough revenue to intervene in the economy and save jobs in the Mines.