Maravi

Mines are funding MMD's campaign, says Simuusa

COMMENT - In the US and Canada, it is illegal to bribe foreign officials. In the US, there is the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. I think this would be enough to start an investigation into how the 'Development Agreements' came about, who was bribed and by whom, and how much taxes were lost because of this corrupt activity. And as everyone knows, there is no protection of a legal contract that was drawn up by breaking the law.

Mines are funding MMD's campaign, says Simuusa
By Chibaula Silwamba
Fri 02 Sep. 2011, 14:01 CAT

MINING firms are bankrolling Rupiah Banda and the MMD's re-election campaign, says a mining engineer.

In an interview yesterday, Wylbur Simuusa, who is PF Nchanga parliamentary candidate in the September 20 elections, said President Banda removed the windfall tax so that he and the MMD financially benefit from the foreign mining companies for their campaign.

"I have been very disappointed with the inconsistence of the government because when Levy Mwanawasa was still alive the windfall tax was done at great expense.

There was a very solid team that was put up to go through all the numbers before presentation in Parliament," Simuusa said.

"It was very disappointing that when Banda came to power he said ‘the windfall tax was a mistake and we are over-taxing foreign investors' which is very shameful. I have challenged Banda to bring counter research to challenge the first decision."

He said a named international organisation had released a report that revealed that President Banda's government was "too close" to mining companies' owners to effectively challenge them.

"So, that ‘too close' speaks volumes. It means behind the scenes money is exchanging hands. There was talk that the mine owners, especially the Chinese and Indians are going to heavily fund the MMD campaigns and now what we are saying is that the MMD has campaign flag on every tree and pole," Simuusa said.

"Over 50 bicycles have been given. Each candidate has been given money. Where is MMD getting that money? Meanwhile, they made a statement that MMD is a poor party but all of the sudden where are they getting money to hang a MMD chitenge on every tree? So we know that someone is funding them and it's the mining companies. That is why President Banda is failing to execute the windfall tax and other laws."

Simuusa also warned Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) to desist from taking vital identity of all miners.

"I have received a lot of reports that the mine owners are demanding that all the workers should submit NRCS and other details about their families. This is a sensitive period. Let KCM stop with immediate effect this intimidation of the workers," said Simuusa. "Let the miners not submit that information."

[About the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act:

Provisions and scope

The anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA prohibit:

Issuers, domestic concerns, and any person from making use of interstate commerce corruptly, in furtherance of an offer or payment of anything of value to a foreign official, foreign political party, or candidate for political office, for the purpose of influencing any act of that foreign official in violation of the duty of that official, or to secure any improper advantage in order to obtain or retain business.

Persons subject to the FCPA

Issuers

Includes any U.S. or foreign corporation that has a class of securities registered, or that is required to file reports under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 - MrK]

Labels: LEVY MWANAWASA, TAX EVASION, WINDFALL TAX, WYLBUR SIMUUSA

posted by MrK @ 2:56 PM