GENERAL NEWS

There is nothing irregular about ERB levy – Kabimba

14/11/2013

Former MINISTER of Justice Wynter Kabimba bestows Chieftainship on Chief Mukobela the 4th of the Ila-speaking people of Baambwe in Namwala during a colourful ceremony. - Picture by BRIAN MALAMA

Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba has told Parliament today that there is nothing irregular about the levy government collects in respect of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fund.

Mr. Kabimba made the clarification in a Ministerial statement following a point of order raised by UNPD Monze Central Member of Parliament Jack Mwiimbu on 30th October.

The point of order was raised during the question and answer session when Energy Minister Christopher Yaluma was responding to a question on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fund.

Mr. Kabimba says the issue of the levy that government collects in respect of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fund falls under the class of user fees and that it is for this reason that government is in order to collect the levy.

Mr. Kabimba says the levy in question is also in line with section 20, sub-section 2, sub-sections C of the Energy Regulation ACT, Chapter 436 of the laws of Zambia which provides that the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) may charge and collect fees in respect of programs, seminars and other services provided by the Board.

Mr. Kabimba says in this sense there is nothing therefore irregular to the extent that Mr. Mwiimbu’s point of order tended to suggest.