Clinton on corruption in mining sector

Clinton on corruption in mining sector
By E.C, Lusaka
Mon 13 June 2011, 12:10 CAT

Editor,

It is a scandal and quite embarrassing for us to wait for US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to come and tell us that Zambia has not benefited reasonably from mineral royalties. Corruption consumes economic gains. Clinton is right to say any bribe paid to a custom official represents a hidden tax on the cost of doing business.

In Zambia today, mining companies don't even care about the environment they are operating in. Their corporate social responsibility policies only exist on paper because they prefer giving the money earmarked for social responsibility to individual ministers and government officials. No wonder Zambians are suffering in a land of abundance.

Anyone who tries to point out irregularities in the way the mines are conducting their business becomes an enemy of the government; Honourable Maxwell Mwale, in particular, gets annoyed indicating that there is something sinister he is trying to shield.

I would like to implore all minsters and government officials that this corruption they are nurturing will have a negative effect on them or their grandchildren when they leave office. The Bible says you reap what you sow.

I hope Clinton counselled them on the dangers of embracing corruption in their closed-door meetings. Anyway, what can we expect from a genetically corrupt regime.