Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe has directed ZCCM-IH through its lawyers to begin engaging in roundtable discussions with the legal team for Vedanta Resources with a view of settling the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) court issues out of court.
Mr Kabuswe says government is not willing to continue waiting for the next court hearing set for January 2023 when there is another viable option of handling the case.
Speaking at a media briefing today,Mr Kabuswe says this is in line with President Hakainde Hichilema has said that these matters cannot be resolved in the courts, but through effective dialogue by all concerned parties.
He has explained that whether Vedanta Resources is staying or not is not a subject matter at the moment, but rather resolving misunderstandings because government empathizes with the affected miners and the anxieties that are going on.
And Mr. Kabuswe has dismissed assertions by some opposition political party leaders that the new dawn government has given tax holidays to mines thereby losing out on tax revenue.
He says this is evidenced by the fact the Zambia Revenue Authority has recorded an increase in revenue collection in the first quarter of 2022 with the mining sector contributing 43 percent of that revenue.