By Tendai Matunhu
Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has commended Alrosa for investing in the mining industry in Zimbabwe.
Speaking to Russian Sputnik News Agency’s Valentina Shavartsman in Moscow recently, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Retired Lieutenant General Sibusiso Moyo said, “We commend so much Alrosa’s investment decision it has made in Zimbabwe, particularly in the diamond sector. As you know Alrosa is one of the biggest diamond explorer and also mining expert with the latest technology in that regard.
“They have already committed to putting down US$12 million into the exploration and we are optimistic that such investments in the exploration will discover more resources which are going to generate a lot of income and revenue for both the two countries. We believe that as we move on, we should be able to see investments into the actual mining sector of developing those diamonds,” he said.
Minister Moyo highlighted that Alrosa’s investment is good in the sense that it will encourage other Russian companies to follow suit in investing in different areas.
“We believe that there is going to be a lot of expansion and potential by Alrosa to invest in more resources. Not only is it going to be in itself investing in the mining sector for diamonds, but it is going to give a signal to the rest of the mining houses in Russia so that they follow suit in different areas,” he said.
Minister Moyo highlighted that Russia and Zimbabwe are rich in mineral resources which are available for a joint and mutually beneficial exploitation by mining houses in both countries.
Speaking during the same interview, Minister Moyo said Russia was supporting Zimbabwe to achieve two issues, the concept of Less Emission Development Strategy (LEDS) and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs), both of which are within the Paris agreement. He said Zimbabwe should primarily achieve less emission and also have a less emission development plan.
He also said Zimbabwe should invest in the less emission development areas an issue which President Emmerson Mnangagwa will address in his speech at the UN General Assembly in September.
The Russian mining company’s (Alrosa) investment in Zimbabwe is set to create employment for the locals. It is also expected to trigger a floodgate of investments from other international companies.
