Zimbabwe to scrap platinum mine ownership rules
The new rules could be extended to diamond mining, says mines minister Winston Chitando
Washington — Zimbabwean finance minister Mthuli Ncube said on Wednesday a rule requiring local investors to control platinum mines will be scrapped and foreigners will be allowed to own 100% in a bid to revive investment. “We are removing that indigenisation rule, which is discouraging foreign direct investment,” Ncube said in an interview with Bloomberg Television in Washington. “We say Zimbabwe is open for business; you can only be open if you allow ownership of 100%.” The new rules could be extended to diamond mining, mines minister Winston Chitando said in a separate interview on Wednesday. The change to policies introduced by former president Robert Mugabe will increase the appeal of Zimbabwe to the world’s top platinum producers, including Anglo American Platinum, and could generate interest from Russian diamond miner Alrosa. Abandoning the requirement to transfer a 51% stake to locals is part of wider efforts to stimulate the southern African nation’s economy. President Emmer...
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