FORMER mines minister Richard Musukwa says the reduction in revenues collected from the mining sector in 2023 is due to tax holidays granted to mining companies. Last week, Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said revenues collected from the mining sector had decreased to K13.1 billion in 2023, from K22.64 billion in 2022. Dr Musokotwane attributed this decline in revenue to a lack of investments in the mining sector for about a decade, among other factors. However in an interview, Musukwa argued that the Patriotic Front administration ensured that mining entities did not exploit Zambians by evading tax. “PF had mine expansion and investments in place. Mines were put in their space where they couldn’t exploit Zambians. We have been mining for...