• PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu (left) shares a light moment with Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe and State House Deputy Minister Mulenga Sata after the swearing-in ceremony in Lusaka yesterday. Picture by CLEVER ZULU

By CHARITY MOONGA –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has directed the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner-General Berlin Msiska to expedite dialogue with mine owners and promptly resolve the impasse over the new mining tax regime.
Mr Lungu issued the directive after he addressed a special session of Cabinet to consider the impasse over the new mining tax regime and the outstanding Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds for mining companies.
The President wanted an amicable settlement that must end in a win-win outcome for both the mining companies and the people of Zambia.
On the status of the VAT refunds, the ZRA Commissioner-General and the Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda reported that a statutory instrument to regulate the payment of refunds would be ready in a matter of days to deal with future payments.
Mr Lungu further directed that in light of the existing legal dilemma regarding claims that had already been submitted, new negotiations must be opened to address mechanisms under which any payment would be settled.
“I want to see increased dialogue and increased flow of information that in fact we have been talking to the mine owners over these matters. We have to make this clear so that we can forestall the falsehoods that some people are peddling to poison public perception regarding this matter.
“The ultimate aim is to protect jobs and keep mines profitable at the same time. We must also maintain the country’s right to collect due taxes,” Mr Lungu said.
The special session of Cabinet comprised Vice-President Inonge Wina, Mr Chikwanda, Justice Minister Ngosa Simbyakula and Commerce Trade & Industry Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe.
Mr Msiska, Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba and Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary Felix Nkulukusa were in attendance.
Mr Chikwanda told the meeting that Government was actively engaged in dialogue with the mines and there was therefore no cause for panic and blackmail from any quarters.
“This matter is under discussion and I will be addressing the issue at various fora this week when I visit some mines on the Copperbelt this week,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu has directed Health Minister Joseph Kasonde to investigate the shortage of medical drugs in some health centers in Lusaka.
Mr Lungu said there was no medicine in some clinics in Lusaka and therefore the Ministry of Health should do something about that situation.
It was not normal that some clinics in Lusaka had run out of drugs while others had excess drugs.
Mr Lungu wondered how medicines in some health centers could be in short supply as the country had enough stocks of drugs.
He said that the Ministry of Health should ensure that those behind the shortage of drugs in some clinics were brought to book.
“If the Ministry of Health does not have powers, borrow my powers and deal with the people behind the shortage of the drugs,” Mr Lungu said.