Mining taxes top US$311 million
11/05/2012 00:00:00
by Business Reporter
OVERALL tax paid by the mining sector is estimated around US$311 million, representing about 12 percent of the US$2,6 billion revenue collected in 2011, Chamber of Mines President Winston Chitando has said.
Speaking at the Chamber of Mines AGM in Victoria Falls on Friday, Chitando said incorporating alluvial diamonds mined in the eastern Manicaland province would bump mining’s the contribution to about 18 percent.
"The contribution of the mining sector is expected to grow phenomenally to constitute between 20 percent and 25 percent of the total government revenue by 2016," he said.
"However, total tax paid to government currently consumes approximately 17 percent of mining industry revenue and 60 percent of the sector's profitability."
Credited with helping drive the country’s recovery from a decade-long recession, the mining sector now dominates foreign exchange generation with exports increasing significantly from 20 percent between 1993 and 2003 to 43 percent between 2004 and 2011.
"In 2011 alone the sector contributed US$2,1 billion to national exports, representing 50 percent of the country's total foreign exchange earnings,” Chitando said.
"Output over the same period is estimated to account for 13 percent of GDP with indirect multiplier effects taking the contribution to about 18,4 percent of GDP in total. The indirect multiplier effects include backward linkages such as transport, suppliers and professional services.”
The Chamber also said a regional analysis had revealed that the contribution of the mining sector to GDP for Zimbabwe was comparable to that of Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia and Zambia.
"In fact the contribution of the mining sector in Zimbabwe to GDP is higher than the Sadc region average and that of more diversified economies such as South Africa and Namibia," Chitando said.
Labels: ACC ZIMBABWE, MINING, TAXATION
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Anti-Corruption Commission sucked into Prime Minister’s house saga
Saturday, 28 April 2012 21:34
Sunday Mail Reporter
Former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe top official Dr Munyaradzi Kereke has accused Commissioner Emmanuel Chimwanda of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission of “brazenly intimidating members of the public” and trying to exonerate Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in the ongoing investigations to establish whether the Prime Minister abused about US$1,5 million allocated to him by the central bank to purchase a house.
Dr Kereke said the moves by Commissioner Chimwanda had left him with “very elevated anxiety and apprehension” and further questioned whether the moves by the commissioner were not tantamount to abuse of office. Reports say Commissioner Chimwanda once worked in the Prime Minister’s office and was in charge of the security division until he was pushed out following a restructuring exercise that was carried out in July 2010.
In a letter dated April 5 2012, addressed to the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, Mr Denford Chirindo, confirming that he authored the February 28 2012 letter with allegations against his former employers, Dr Kereke expressed reservations at the way Commissioner Chimwanda conducted himself during a visit to his Rockfoundation Medical Centre.
Said Dr Kereke: “Mr Chairman, I also want it duly recorded that I took great exception to the fact that Commissioner Chimwanda from your office came to me again at RMC, on the day you sent him with your 5th of April 2012 letter just before the Easter Holidays, brandishing in his hands a diary written ‘Prime Minister’s Office’ and he uttered veiled threats to me, saying that ‘you people want the Prime Minister arrested for what?’, which remarks took me by surprise as I neither possess arresting powers nor hold any public office.
“I felt Commissioner Chimwanda was seeking to intimidate me for reasons unknown to me.
“I then told him I did not know what he was talking about before he later drove off from my hospital premises in his Prado 4x4 vehicle.
“These remarks by your senior official left me with very elevated anxiety and apprehension that perhaps Commissioner Chimwanda’s repeated visits to me have much more to them, and this is causing me to now live in fear.” Dr Kereke added that the PM’s housing issue, according to media reports, was still under investigations.
“What have I got to do with the investigations on the Prime Minister? Why is Commissioner Chimwanda venting to me these veiled threats?
“To my knowledge, media reports indicate that investigations on the Prime Minister’s housing issue (the PM being a very public figure who must be fully accountable to the people of Zimbabwe) are still on-going.
“Why would Commissioner Chimwanda move around brazenly intimidating members of the public and exonerating the Prime Minister on matters that are still in the mill of due process and on matters which probably he himself has no knowledge of in terms of what transpired?
“Does the conduct of Commissioner Chimwanda not constitute abuse of office and defeating the course of due process of the law?” questioned Dr Kereke.
He copied his letter to the President, the Commissioner General of the Police, the Attorney-General and the Parliament of Zimbabwe.
In response to Dr Kereke’s letter, Mr Chirindo on April 13 2012 wrote a letter suggesting that a meeting be arranged to establish the true facts of the matter.
“Regarding the allegations of threats towards you by Commissioner Chimwanda, and his possession of a diary that raised your concerns, it may be necessary to arrange a meeting between yourself, Commissioner Chimwanda and ourselves to establish the facts of the matter, as it is now your word against his . . .
“Further, we deny that we pursue any political or other agenda, other than that of curbing corruption,” wrote Mr Chirindo.
There have been widespread concerns in recent months that the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission had been politicised by the MDC-T and was now acting as its instrument to deal with those people perceived to be against the Western-sponsored party. A few weeks ago, the commission voted unanimously for the arrest of the Attorney-General, Mr Johannes Tomana, but since then, no move has been made to arrest the AG.
It is understood that everyone associated with the decision to arrest the AG has been doing everything to disassociate themselves from the decision which turned out to have been made on false and distorted information.
Labels: ACC ZIMBABWE
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Alice Nkomo declared provincial hero
Bulawayo Bureau
Zanu-PF Central Committee member and Commissioner in the Anti-Corruption Commission Cde Alice Nkomo — who died in a car accident on Saturday — has been declared a liberation heroine. She will be buried in Bulawayo on Thursday.
Speaking yesterday at Number 3 Langdon Road in Khumalo where mourners are gathered, Zanu-PF national chairman Cde Simon Khaya-Moyo said the party’s leadership saw it fit to confer the status on Cde Nkomo.
"We met as the leadership and discussed Cde Nkomo’s contribution before and after Independence and we agreed that she be declared a liberation heroine.
"We gave her respect and honour for the great role she has been doing especially after Independence," he said.
Cde Khaya-Moyo said the Government would cover all funeral expenses as well as those of her three relatives who died in the same accident.
The three will be buried tomorrow.
"We have put it in our hands to help three others who died in the accident," said Cde Khaya-Moyo.
The accident occurred at around 11pm near Mbokodo Abattoir along the Bulawayo-Plumtree Road.
Three people, including Cde Nkomo, died on the spot while the other died on admission to United Bulawayo Hospitals.
Cde Nkomo’s younger brother, Archie, escaped with minor injuries.
According to family spokesperson Mr Jabulani Nkomo, a motorist tried to overtake her but decided to go back to his lane before ramming into her vehicle.
The car, Mr Nkomo said, spun and rolled several times.
Zapu yesterday said its members learnt with "shock and sadness" of the deaths of Cde Nkomo and three MDC officials.
MDC officials Mr Renson Gasela, Mr Lyson Mlambo and Ms Ntombizodwa Gumbo died in another accident at the weekend.
Zapu said Cde Nkomo distinguished herself as a "humble and peace-loving businesswoman, humanitarian and politician".
On Mr Gasela, Zapu said: "His vast experience and sound views on issues of agriculture and food security will be missed by all those who had the opportunity to engage with him."
Former Gwanda councillor Alderman Petros Mukwena said he was very close to Cde Nkomo and her family and last saw her at the official opening of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair on Friday.
"I had a long relationship with her and her children and would like to pass my condolences to her family on their loss."
Yesterday, Midlands Provincial Governor and Resident Minister Jason Machaya visited the homes of the deceased MDC officials.
Mr Gasela (MDC secretary for lands) Mr Mlambo (national chairperson for the disciplinary committee) and Ms Gumbo (women’s assembly provincial chairperson for Midlands South) died on the spot when their vehicle rammed into a stationary front-end loader on Saturday night.
Six other party officials in the same car were seriously injured.
Cde Machaya yesterday said: "Their deaths come hardly a week after we successfully hosted our 30th Independence Anniversary where all the deceased played a pivotal role in making the celebrations a resounding success."
Cde Machaya wished a quick recovery to the injured.
MDC spokesperson Mr Edwin Mushoriwa said funeral arrangements would be announced in due course.
A Mlambo family spokesperson Mr Mukai Mlambo — third son of the deceased — said: "We are still arranging a burial date but it is likely to be on Wednesday here in Gweru."
Labels: ACC ZIMBABWE, ALICE NKOMO, CAR ACCIDENTS, ZANU-PF
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