PAYING taxes is a civic duty and also a requirement by the law.
The money paid in taxes goes towards meeting government obligations. In addition to paying the salaries of government workers, it also helps to support many other government socio-economic programmes.
It also helps to fund many types of government programmes that help the poor and less fortunate in society. It is against this background that the Economic Association of Zambia (EAZ) has called on the mines to emulate Mopani Coppers Mines (MCM), which has assured government and the nation at large that it will not lay off workers in view of the new mining tax regime.
EAZ national secretary, Mutisunge Zulu, is right to commend MCM for the commitment it has so far shown towards preservation of jobs following government’s decision to introduce a new mining tax regime which came into effect on January 1.
Mr Zulu also made an appeal to other mining firms to emulate Mopani and support the new mining tax regime.
Some mining companies have already shipped their operations to other countries because to them it is an economic encumbrance.
Undeniably, paying tax can be seen as a burden we all must live with, however, it is also pertinent to take into consideration that those taxes and other forms of reparation imposed by governments play a central role in the development of the nation.
Therefore, it will only make sense for the rest of the mining firms in Zambia to follow through with the obligation of paying the new taxes.
We are also in support of continued dialogue between government and the mines to resolve differences as opposed to issuing threats of job cuts.
The mines in Zambia should fully appreciate that they will be paying these new taxes because it is the right thing to do.
