CSPR calls for policy reversal on export Tax

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The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) is urging the government to rethink its decision to suspend a 15% export tax on precious stones and metals.

 Isabel Mukelebai, the organization's Executive Director, believes this move will undermine revenue collection from the mining sector.

 Ms. Mukelebai has agreed that advancing the mining sector is crucial for economic growth, and the initial decision to introduce a 15% export duty on emeralds was a step in the right direction.

 However, Ms. Mukelebai is concerned that suspending this tax just a month into the 2025 national budget implementation will have negative consequences.

 The mining sector is a significant contributor to Zambia's economy, and Ms. Mukelebai has argued that this decision will Undermine domestic resource mobilization efforts and that the change may create uncertainty and complexity for taxpayers, potentially leading to non-compliance.

The CSPR Executive Director has observed that without the export tax, there may be an increased risk of illegal exports of emeralds, which could further deprive the country of much-needed revenue.

Ms. Mukelebai is therefore calling on the government to reconsider its decision, emphasizing that extensive consultations went into designing the export tax policy.

Ends......

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