‘Halt mines’ looting’

"Some mining companies under declare their productions thereby costing Government millions of Kwacha."

GOVERNMENT should quickly place spies in mines to curb the growing looting of mineral resources through under declaration of production, former Transport and Communications deputy minister Alfred Ndhlovu has said. Mr Ndlovu said placement of spies in mines would help the country to fully benefit from the sector.

He said the country has continued to lose millions of dollars through under declaration of proceeds by some mining firms.

Mr Ndlovu said calls to have experts strategically positioned in mines will reduce repatriation of proceeds to other countries by dishonest investors.

He said the country was not fully benefitting from the mining sector because there was too much cheating.

“Some mining companies under declare their productions thereby costing Government millions of Kwacha,” Mr Ndhlovu said.

Mr Ndhlovu said spies would inadvertently provide Government with valuable information on the performance of the mines. He said the country was losing billions of dollars in the mining sector through dubious transactions.

“Our Zambia has not fully benefitted from its natural resources especially in the mining sector because of dishonest investors and this can only be overturned if spies are placed in these mines for the Government to have a true picture of the sector,” Mr Ndhlovu said.