MINERAL DIVERSIFICATION VITAL - STATE
INDUSTRIALISATION and diversification of the minerals sector is critical for Zambia to attain sustained economic growth, Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary Barnaby Mulenga has said.
Mr Mulenga said such a development required better policies on mineral taxation because it was critical in achieving sustained economic growth for the country.
He said this in a speech read by Ministry of Mines Director of Human Resource, Moses Nyirenda, at the official opening of training on Mineral Taxation for Government officials.
The training programme was organised by the Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) and University of Zambia (UNZA).
“Indeed, sustained growth within Zambia’s Economic Environment can only be achieved through the process of industrialization and diversification in and outside the Minerals sector," Mr Mulenga said.
He stressed that mining contributed substantially to the macroeconomic development of Zambia, accounting for 12 percent of the gross domestic product and over 70 percent of the country’s export earnings.
And UNZA Vice Chancellor Luke Mumba explained that the training was aimed at providing an overview of Zambia’s mining taxation policy since privatisation as
well as provide participants with the knowledge of the main principles of mining tax.
“The School of Mines and CTPD developed a short course on Mineral Taxation aimed aimed at providing an overview of Zambia’s Mining Taxation Policy since privatization,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, CTPD Executive Director Isaac Mwaipopo said the training would help stimulate the much needed efforts from all stakeholders in ensuring increased benefits from the extraction of the country’ s mineral resources.
“We see this training as key to great works that stand to benefit not only the two institutions but the country at large,’’ Mr Mwaipopo said.
RESIDENTS of Mushili Township in Ndola have called on the Ministry of Health to ensure that Mushili Old Clinic operates as a y e ge health facility, even in the nig t
The residents co mplained that the new Mushili Mini-Hospital was not ce ntrally loca ted and suggested that the old cl inic which was easily acce ssible should operate ove rnight.
One of the residents, Ms Regina Naka zw e, said the mini-hospital was loca ted far away and was not easily ace ssible especially in the night.
Ms Naka zw e co mplained that the Mushili old cl inic was reduce d to offering antenatal and family planning service s only from the time the Mushili Mini-Hospital was opened.
"We want the old mushili cl inic to operate as 24/7 and also offer all other health service s like any other cl inic beca use it is near and easy to ace ss for most of the residents," she said.
Another resident, Ms Mary Chanda, said patients especially those in a cr itica l co ndition co uld not manage to walk to the mini-hospital beca use public transport was rarely found.
"If the old cl inic ca n also start operating fully, it will make things much easier for the residents," Ms Chanda said.
Another resident, Ms Emmanuel Phiri, added that if the old cl inic started operating fully, it would also help deco ngest the Mini-Hospital as some residents would be using the old cl inic.
We want the old mushili clinic to operate as 24/7 and also offer all other health services like any other clinic because it is near and easy to access for most of the residents.