Republican President Edgar Lungu says Government is determined to resolve policy and regulatory issues that investors have raised regarding investment in the mining industry.President Lungu also says there is need to develop a simplified mining tax administration as this will make it easy for Government to verify and audit Mining firms’ reported profits and losses.He said this in a speech read on his behalf by Vice President INONGE WINA at the ongoing Zambia Mining Indaba organized by the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development and Ministry of Finance with support from CTPD and Oxfam Zambia.The Indaba is been held under the theme ‘Building for the future: Reflecting on Zambia’s mining taxation policy towards sustainable investment in the sector.

’’President Lungu called on Mining Companies to actively incorporate social, environmental and Governance factors in their investment decisions and in project implementation.

He stressed that Government’s basic requirement is that mining communities benefit from the Mines in their areas so that no one is left behind.And Mines Minister Richard Musukwa reaffirmed government’s commitment to open dialogue with industry players to matters pertaining to the Mining sector.

Mr. Musukwa said it is for this reason that the focus of the Indaba is to come up with fiscal outcomes for the mining sector that achieve a fair, consistent and predictable mining tax regime.Earlier, Acting Finance Minister Alexander Chiteme said while the Mining sector contributes around 10 percent to the Gross Domestic Product and more than 70 percent to forex earnings, it has not translated into economic fortunes.