The Times of Zambia report that President Mwanawasa has invited mining companies opposed to the proposed tax reforms to meet with Finance Minister Magande and Mines Minister Mwansa. "We are a listening Government, instead of them shouting on the hill I invite them to seek audience with the Finance and Mines ministers and they should be prepared... We are at 31 per cent, let the mining firms show that we are wrong when we say that our taxes are low. These people are coming from countries where taxes are high." He said he was happy that the people who put him in power had welcomed the move by the Government to increase the tax and that his interest was for the people of Zambia who were more important.
Reuters also report the invitation and that Mwanawasa said foreign managers at the vast copper and cobalt mines received huge salaries, while denying Zambians jobs in higher management positions. "They might be happy now with the salaries they are getting, (but) what of the majority Zambians? Is it wrong for Zambians to ask for more so that we can improve the living conditions for all Zambians?"
In The Post Lands minister Bradford Machila advises mining companies not to use development agreements to escape the proposed tax regime on the mines. As minewatchzambia has pointed out, he also noted, “Some mine investors have not been honouring their part of the development agreements that have to do with health and safety, environment, labour and immigration,” Machila said. “The mining companies have been getting away with non-compliance to those aspects of the development agreements.” He said in the event that the government was dragged to court over breach of the development agreements, it would be forced to defend its position.
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