The Zambian government has dismissed calls by opposition leaders for the impeachment of President Edgar Lungu for making changes to the country’s mineral loyalty tax without getting parliament approval, the Zambia Daily Mail reported on Monday. 
On Saturday, Charles Milupi, leader of the opposition Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD), said the Zambian leader risked being impeached if his directive to make changes to the current mine tax regime is effected without the approval of parliament.
But Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili said there was no basis for impeachment of the Zambian leader as suggested by the opposition leader.
“We are government and as government of the day, we change policies from time to time. It is just a question of amending the policy on mineral loyalty and nothing sinister,” he was quoted as saying by the paper.
The Zambian leader recently ordered his ministers to make changes to the mineral tax regime and accommodate concerns raised by mining firms on the increase of mineral loyalty tax from six percent to eight percent for open mines and 20 percent for underground mines.
This follows complaints from mining firms over government to increase the mineral loyalty, saying it will make mining not profitable, with some threatening to close operations. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
