Expedite placement of `spies’ in mines - Musoma

GOVERNMENT must expedite the process of placing experts in mining companies to ascertain and monitor minerals that are being exported, Zambia Republican Party president Wright Musoma has said.

Mr Musoma said the move was the only way especially foreign owned mining companies would stop cheating the government.

He was reacting to sentiments by Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development Permanent Secretary Barnaby Mulenga that Government would strategically place experts in all mining companies.

This follows calls by a mining expert Edward Simukonda who proposed the need to come up with a plan to place spies in extractive companies to ascertain minerals in blisters extracted and exported.

Mr Simukonda said this was because the country was losing billions through cheating.

And Mr Mulenga said government was aware of what was happening and that was the reason for considering to come up with such a programme.

But Mr Musoma said it was important that the government expedited the process for the country to stop losing revenue.

He said in an interview yesterday, the revenue which was being lost was supposed to be channeled in reviving the dwindling economy.

He said, “As a country we need enough revenue for us to be out the challenges we are facing right now, so it is important that measures are put in place to seal all the loopholes. “This time around we don’t need to allow investors to continue milking us through cheating. We need to be getting more revenue from our resources. The move by Government to place experts is very good and commendable but this process need to be done as soon as possible,” Mr Musoma said.