Lifwekelo roasts HH …for avoiding to pay full taxes for the hotel

…for avoiding to pay full taxes for the hotel

IT is unpatriotic for UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and chief Mukuni of Livingstone to deny Zambia the much-needed resources by avoiding to pay full company tax for Sun International, former UPND deputy spokesperson Edwin Lifwekelo has said.

Mr Lifwekelo reiterated that avoiding paying tax was unpatriotic because Zambia needed resources to develop. He was reacting to revelations that the Panama registered but Livingstone-based, Sun International Hotel, jointly owned among others by Hakainde Hichilema and his proxy chief Mukuni, has been paying 15 percent corporate tax instead of 35 percent that all companies pay. “This is the money which is supposed to be used to construct schools, clinics, bridges and good roads for our people. With this money, government can provide enough medicines for our health facilities. Avoiding to pay tax is not good,” said Mr Lifwekelo. And Mr Lifwekelo doubted whether an individual who was ready to toy with the livelihood of the Zambian people could be trusted with public office. He warned that Zambia would be sold to the highest bidder if people made the mistake of placing the country in the hands selfish leaders. Mr Lifwekelo wondered how a leader who claimed to hold the plight of vulnerable Zambians at high esteem would allow a company in which he holds shares undeservingly milk people of their resources. He charged that it was unpatriotic for Mr Hichilema and chief Mukuni to deny Zambia the much needed resources. Mr Lifwekelo also supported calls for the company to be handed back to the State if its sale was shrouded in conflict of interest. He reiterated that suspicions that Mr Hichilema, as negotiator during the privatization of companies had favoured investors in his dealings should be thoroughly investigated as well.