The Association of Zambian Women in Mining-AZWIM has appealed to government to consider a reduction in tax collections from small-scale miners.
Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Association President Grace Njapau expressed concern over small-scale miners paying the same taxes as big mines noting that this is disadvantaging small-scale miners.
Njapau said some miners in the association are failing to excel in the mining sector, as they are required to pay huge taxes like big mining companies.
“Our people are failing because they are comparing us to Lumwana, Kansanshi, First Quantum Minerals and these other big mines. We are ready to pay taxes but at a minimal because we are
small and we don’t have machinery like the big mines”, she said.
She explained that the association understands that all miners have to pay taxes as required by law but government should put into consideration the fact that the women are mining on a small-scale level.
The President of the association also mentioned that government should ensure that foreign companies coming into Zambia abide by the rules of the country and not what has been the case.
Njapau expressed concern over some companies that are running away from paying taxes, which has negatively affected the country adding that everyone in the mining sector should be accounted for and should pay tax as required by law.
