The Post reports today that Chingola clergyman Bishop Joseph Kazhila has joined Guy Scott's call for protests against mine multinationals if they take legal action to try and block tax reforms in Zambia.
Bishop Kazhila who is general overseer of Life Gospel Ministries International said, “We are grateful that the mining companies came to mine our minerals but we can’t afford to let them dictate the terms or hold Zambian people to ransom on the basis of the one sided agreements they signed during the periods of economic crisis.... If these mining companies continue with this kind of attitude, Zambians will be forced to team up and stage countrywide protests of resistance against them, and this may make it hard for them to work and make profits.... The government has done the people’s wish and no one will blame them and they have the support of the nation.... But if the government succumbs to the threats by mining companies, then it risks being irrelevant to the country and its people. The government must be resilient, very strong and courageous over this matter as it is like a ‘life or death’ situation in Zambia.... We refuse to be intimidated and we will stand our grounds no matter the threats.... Let those wanting to pull out do so if they wish, but they should realise that many other investors are on the ‘bench’ ready to take up the mining challenge.”
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