.CHIKWANDA

By CHARITY MOONGA –

GOVERNMENT collected K4.36 billion as total revenue from mining companies during the period between January to December 2013.
Finance and National Planning Minister Alexander Chikwanda said in Parliament that of the total revenue collected, K1.76 billion was from mineral royalty; K1.08 billion was from company tax while K1.52 billion was from Pay as you earn.
Mr Chikwanda was responding to a question by Lubansenshi independent Member of Parliament Patrick Mucheleka who wanted to find out how much revenue was collected from mining companies from January to December, 2013.
He said that the amount collected from mineral tax and corporate tax represented 18 per cent of the total revenue collected in 2013.
In a follow up contribution, Mr Mucheleka expressed concern at the low revenues being collected from the mining sector.
But Mr Chikwanda said Government was currently working out modalities to ensure that more tax was collected from the mines.
He said Government would soon present to the House its intention to adjust mining taxes and the remedial measures would be guided by the House.
He said it was not easy for Government on its own to adjust the mining taxes but would require the involvement of the rest of the members of Parliament.
“We have unanimously agreed that the mining taxes should be adjusted, it is just a matter of legality because modalities are already on course,” Mr Chikwanda said.
Mafinga MMD MP Catherine Namugala said Zambia needed to benefit from the mining sector now since the mineral resource was a diminishing one.
Bweengwa UPND MP, Highvie Hamududu said it was sad that the debate on mining taxes had gone on for too long and urged Government to bring to an end the debate by reviewing mining tax laws.
Meanwhile, Parliament heard that six Zambians were arrested in foreign countries for wearing ivory bracelets in 2013.
Government had since embarked on a programme to sensitise Zambians on wearing ivory bracelets in some foreign countries.
Youth and Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili told the House that Government had this year set aside K20 billion as youth empowerment fund and would ensure transparency and accountability in the disbursement of the funds to the districts.
Acting Information and Broadcasting Minister Mwansa Kapeya informed the House that the introduction of holograms had realised K439, 000 by 2013.
Tourism and Art Deputy Minister Lawrence Evans also told the House that the suspension of British Airways flights had a minimal impact on tourist arrivals in Zambia which were at 33,000 as at December, 2013.