Kenneth Kaunda, KK admitted to Lusaka Trust Hospital

7
President Lungu prays for Dr Kaunda
President Lungu prays for Dr Kaunda

First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda has been admitted to Lusaka Trust Hospital for an unknown illness.

And President Edgar Lungu Tuesday afternoon took time off his busy schedule to visit Dr Kaunda and offered prayer for him.

Meanwhile President Edgar Lungu has directed Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner-General Berlin Msiska to expedite dialogue with mine owners and promptly resolve the impasse over the new mining tax regime.

President Lungu issued the directive after he addressed a special session of Cabinet to consider the impasse over the new mining tax regime and the outstanding VAT refunds for mining companies.

The President said he wants an amicable settlement that must end in a win-win outcome for both the mining companies and the people of Zambia.

 

On the VAT refunds status, the ZRA Commissioner-General and Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda reported that a statutory instrument to regulate the payment of refunds would be ready in a matter of days to deal with future payments.

Mr Chikwanda emphasised that government was actively engaged in dialogue with the mines and there is therefore no cause for panic and blackmail from any quarters.

The Head of State has directed that in the light of the existing legal dilemma regarding claims that have already been submitted, new negotiations must therefore be opened to address mechanisms under which any payment would be settled.

The special session of Cabinet comprised the Vice-President Inonge Wina, Mr Chikwanda, Minister of Justice Dr Ngosa Simbyakula and Minister of Commerce Trade & Industry, Mrs Margaret Mwanakatwe.

The Minister of Mines will join this committee of ministers tasked to tackle the mines tax impasse.

The ZRA Commissioner-General, Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba and Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary Felix Nkulukusa were also in attendance.

Meanwhile, President Lungu has reverted Dr. Bwalya Ng’andu to the Bank of Zambia as Deputy Government-Operations.

Dr Ng’andu has been on secondment to the civil service as Permanent Secretary for Mchinga Province.

In his letter to Dr Ngándu, President Lungu reminds him that position of Deputy Governor Operations is a critical position especially at a time when the country faces intractable challenges in both the domestic and global economies.
President Lungu says there is a compelling need to use monetary policy to stimulate the economy and it cannot be business as usual.

The President says it is his hope that Dr Ng’andu will reinforce the Governor and initiate meaningful dialogue with commercial banks to close some avoidable loopholes that induce injurious outflows of the country’s meagre foreign exchange.

This is contained in a statement issued to QFM News by the President’s special assistant for press and public relations Amos Chanda.

 

QFM NEWS

7 COMMENTS

Leave a Reply to Norman Mwanza Cancel reply