AMN - ZIMBABWE: Open for business

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Mines Winston Chitando told an invited group of delegates to the Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town this week that Zimbabwe’s mineral resources are under-explored and there are vast opportunities for investors who have the appetite to explore.

Winston Chitando says there are multiple opportunities that Cabinet would like to see investors take advantage of. He emphasised two issues that will help stimulate the mining industry, being the indigenisation threshold that is now in place for only diamonds and platinum, and the government’s endeavour to uphold policy clarity and consistency.

“There are currently only three Exclusive Prospecting Orders in Zimbabwe and he invited more entities to partner with Cabinet to unearth more of what is in the country. Opportunities exist amongst others in asbestos, coal, iron-ore, platinum, lithium and nickel.”

He emphasised that Zimbabwe has good systems in place that, as one example, lead to quick turnaround time for exports.

One of the current investors in Zimbabwe, Zunaid Moti told the delegates: “Opportunities are based on relationships that were cultivated as result of difficulties that were worked through. This is my advice: build relationships with the government.

“There is nothing that can’t be solved through conversations – it is truly open for business in Zimbabwe when the Head of Government invites you in for tea to talk about your interest in the country. The invitation is open to look at Zimbabwe in the positive light it deserves,” he said.

www.mines.gov.zw