Lusaka, Zambia | 16 December 2024 – Zambia is facing significant economic challenges due to tax evasion in the mining sector, according to Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Gilbert Phiri. In a recent statement, Phiri highlighted the collaborative efforts of his office with other law enforcement agencies and government institutions to combat illicit financial flows and illegal mining activities.
Phiri emphasized the severe impact of these illegal activities on the nation’s economy, stating, “The illicit financial flows and illegal mining operations are draining our resources and undermining our economic stability. We are committed to addressing these issues head-on.”
The DPP underscored the importance of confiscating assets from those suspected of benefiting from criminal activities. “I firmly believe that dispossessing criminals and those suspected of possessing property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime has a more dissuasive effect on them and is of greater value in the long run,” Phiri said.
The Zambian government has been under increasing pressure to tighten regulations and improve enforcement in the mining sector, which is a critical component of the country’s economy. The collaboration between the DPP’s office and other agencies is seen as a crucial step towards curbing these illegal practices and ensuring that the mining sector contributes fairly to the national treasury.
Phiri’s remarks come at a time when Zambia is striving to enhance transparency and accountability in its mining industry. The government’s efforts to tackle tax evasion and illegal mining are expected to bolster economic growth and ensure that the benefits of the country’s mineral wealth are more equitably distributed.
