By Rogan Labika,
President Hakainde Hichilema has dismissed claims that mining companies are evading taxes, reiterating that the revenue generated from the sector is instrumental in funding key government policies such as free education.
Speaking during the Presidential Annual Greetings for the diplomatic corps in Lusaka, President Hichilema disclosed that First Quantum Minerals in the North-Western Province is currently the largest taxpayer in Zambia’s mining industry.
The President emphasized that the taxes collected from mining firms contribute significantly to the national treasury.
He urged citizens not to be misled by narratives suggesting the country is gaining nothing from its mineral wealth.
President Hichilema also highlighted that recent policy reforms in the mining sector have revitalized the sector leading to the reopening and expansion of several operations.
