Dosman Mangisi Mining Correspondent
THE country’s second biggest platinum miner, Mimosa Mining Company, has scooped three tax appreciation awards from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority for being the highest contributor in Region 3. Zimra categorises the country into three regions with the Midlands from which the platinum miner falls, Masvingo and Manicaland provinces falling under Region 3. Mimosa scooped first prizes in the compliance contributors on Value Added Tax (VAT), Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and Income Tax. Zimra commissioner general Gershem Pasi hailed compliant taxpayers who meet their statutory obligations.

“In the absence of penalties, interest and garnishing orders, business will in turn thrive as operators will be able to channel resources to production,” he said. “Africa has to rely on natural resources generated locally for it to grow. We’re aware that it’s a tough call but we’re up to the challenge.”

Unki in Shurugwi and Sino Zimbabwe Cement in Gweru were some of the companies from Region 3 that were honoured by Zimra for their efforts in tax compliance. In an interview, Mimosa executive chairman Winston Chitando said his company was striving to promote a mutually beneficial relationship with the community from which it operates and the government at large.

“We strive as a company to foster a mutually beneficial relationship with our valued communities around and our government at large. It’s our passion to complement government programmes and its economic programmes in line with our sector of mining” he said. The platinum miner has this year continued contributing tax directly and indirectly, he said. Last year, Mimosa paid $100 million in taxes and the figure was 45 percent of its expenditure.

Meanwhile, despite managing to comply with their tax obligations, mining firms have cried foul over the multiplicity of taxes which range from mining fees, taxation and other charges they were being levied. At present, due to the continuous fall of prices of metal commodities on the international market, mining firms are finding it difficult to manage their operational costs.

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