Poverty of CSR

From Zambian Economist Tue Jan 8 2013, 18:30:00

"Though multinational firms in the mining industry have been preaching elaborate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes, some of these initiatives are cosmetic and fail to satisfy the local communities. Mining firms, by any measure, make super profits and are capable of contributing more to the national Treasury as well as to the communities in which they operate.....Zambia should craft a tax regime that will be able to capture sufficient revenue from the mining firms without stifling production and profit levels. The country's poverty levels can go down if the tax regime was worked out to seal all loop-holes that give rise to evasion...The country is richly endowed with mineral resources and holds about six per cent of the world's known copper reserves..... But it is sad that the majority of citizens particularly those in the countryside live in abject poverty to the extent that some families are surviving on about $1 a day..."

- Times of Zambia

It was good to pick up the seems people are finally waking up to the arguments we have advanced time and time again. CSR is a bribe that no serious patriot should ever rely on to satisfy our country. The idea of sorting out Zambia Revenue Authority is also a pipe dream because globally multinationals always avoid profit based taxes. Zambia is not unique.

Zambia has two options :

[view whole blog post ]
 See More    |     Report Abuse


You might also be interested in the following news stories:

Botswana:  Botswana Rejects Controversial UK Proposal On Asylum-Seekers (news)
Voice of America
24 Avril 2024

Botswana says it has rejected a proposal to accept asylum-seekers from the United Kingdom, an arrangement similar to the one Rwanda has agreed to. The UK's House of Lords on Monday passed a bill that ... [read more]

Zimbabwe:  AFC Insurance Collaborates With Botswana Firm (news)
The Herald
23 Avril 2024

AFC Insurance is collaborating with Phoenix Insurance Company of Botswana to map out ways of boosting agricultural production in both countrie, a development expected to boost smallholders' resilience ... [read more]

Botswana:  Botswana Churches Oppose Gay Rights Proposal (news)
Voice of America
18 Avril 2024

A coalition of churches in Botswana has voiced its opposition to parliament's latest effort to amend the constitution to include gay rights. Botswana's minister for state president, Kabo Morwaeng, ... [read more]



blogAfrica is allAfrica.com's platform to help you keep an ear on the African blogosphere. We draw diverse voices from around the world who post regularly and insightfully about African issues. Bloggers, submit your blog's rss-feed!