A report by Russian state news agency Ria Novosti claims that a government owned technologies company may supply military helicopter gunships to Zimbabwe, in exchange for rights to mine platinum deposits in Darwendale.
Darwendale, just outside Harare, is estimated to have the second largest platinum deposits in the world. The area is also rich in palladium, gold, rhodium, nickel and copper.
A source in the Russian presidential administration told the Kommersant Business Daily newspaper that Russia, "is holding negotiations with Zimbabwe on an inter-governmental agreement on stimulating investment and defence."
"Russian Technologies has already secured preliminary support from Zimbabwe's official representatives during its visit to the country in April," another source told the paper. The source further said the Zimbabweans were interested in the supply of Russian arms, in particular military helicopters.
"The issue being discussed is the transfer to Russian Technologies of the rights to develop the (platinum) deposit in exchange for the supply of helicopters," the source said. Another source close to Russian Technologies confirmed the state corporation's interest in the Darwendale project.
It's reported the licence for the development of the Darwendale project belongs to "Ruschrome Mining - a joint company of the government of Zimbabwe and the Russian Center for business cooperation with foreign countries."
Ministry of Defence permanent secretary Martin Rushwaya, fingered by Global Witness as a director in the Chinese/Zim army owned diamond firm Anjin, is serving as the chairman of the Board of Directors of Ruschrome. Andrei Shutov presides over the Russian consortium of investors.
"Ruschrome received the license for the exploration and development of the deposit for 25 years. All preparations were completed in January of this year, and the company received an opportunity to start the development of the deposit. The total volume of investments in the project makes up $300 million," one report said.
The news will infuriate Zimbabweans, eager to see the coalition government get its priorities right. Although the country is rich in mineral deposits the proceeds from such projects are not going to the Treasury and health and education don't get the funding they need and civil servants remain on poor salaries.
Instead the Mugabe regime is effectively running a parallel government to fund the purchase of military hardware and other covert operations aimed at suppressing perceived opposition supporters and allowing the regime to hang on to power.
But there is still a possibility that the weapons for platinum deal may not go through.
Several people in the Russian administration are not too confident about Mugabe and ZANU PF's chances of winning the next election. The view is that Zimbabwe has a strong and popular opposition and even the persistent speculation about Mugabe's health has fuelled concerns about the long term future of the deal.
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What sort of supposed govt is zanupf? Diamonds for palaces, luxury yachts and offshore havens, platinum for guns and gunships. Did someone forget there are people starving in zimbabwe? did someone forget there are thousands out there who havent paid their zesa accounts, there are thousand out there who have no access to health care and there are thousands out there with AIDS. What excesses more are we going to see from this obscene Zanu pf party?
takunya, "Botswana invading" Zimbabwe? You are just pulling it out of your ass.
Who cares? Not Zanu-PF. These are the best of times for them. With whom is Mugabe at war to be stockpiling all these armaments? I suppose he will be flying his helicopter gunships to the rural areas where Zanu-PF has hay days intimidating, ill-treating and pushing around the poor people if bribing them has not worked. Mugabe and all have simply lost their common decency and have become the post colonial breed of Africans who are looters, mindless of the masses and no longer human in nature or character. They are all what Malema would call "bustaards."
Kjrs120;
You pretend to be surprised that Botswana could invade Zimbabwe but you are not surprised where they got the guts or audacity to threaten us by advocating for the sealing of "all borders with Zimbabwe and bomb them from the skies, for two weeks, to see if Mugabe does not fall".
Where did they get that strength from? If it was Pendu Sikelemani’s stupidity, which had nothing to do with the Botswana government, then he should have been fired there and then - he is still the Foreign Minister and still threatening us.
This means that there is some VERY BIG POWER behind what Sikelemani said and that hidden hand intends to use Botswana to provoke us so that they have the excuse of invading our country. After all, these utterances were made while Pendu was in Britain where he had gone for consultation on how to "remove Mugabe from power".
Was that plan ever taken off the table? If it was not, as we in Zimbabwe, very well know it wasn't; what stops Britain from using Botswana to get at us? Absolute NOTHING!! We need to be prepared for that eventuality even though we know we do not stand a chance if they attack. What is important is for us to be able to fire one or two bullets and getting one or two of them.
This is what Mbuya Nehanda did!! She knew she was no match to Rhodes and his colonial Pioneer Column, but she stood her ground and managed to kill a few of theirs before she was eventually beheaded.
Kjrs120;
Jeffjedi06;
Although this outfit calling itself Shortwave Radio is permanently an unreliable source of news or information, if this report is anything to go by then I am happy that the government has not forgotten (because of relative peace) the adage; 'If you want peace prepare for war!'
This is a very important principle that should be followed by ALL governments (especially those that are not towing the imperialist line); that do not wish to be manipulated and arm twisted by barbaric imperialists that have now set out precedents of invading poor countries, in Africa, for their resources - Libya and Ivory Coast are cases in point.
As for Zimbabwe we are very justified to acquire weapons of war because we were threatened, not so long ago. Botswana, through the Foreign Minister, Pendu Sikelemani, advocated for the "sealing of all borders with Zimbabwe and bomb them from the air for two weeks to see if Mugabe does not fall". That was and still is a VERY SERIOUS threat that was NEVER taken off the table, which means, any time convenient to these barbarians, the plan can be REACTIVATED.
The plan involved the deployment of foreign troops from America and Britain, which were to assist bandits trained in Botswana to invade our motherland. The stationing of foreign troops in Botswana was going to be justified as protecting the sovereignty of that country from possible "aggression by Zimbabwe".
The justification for aiding bandits and terrorists was going to be the same one being used to provide arms to Syrian terrorists; the same one used to militarily intervene and CARNAGELY bombing of Ivory Coast and Libya. We have not forgotten and are FULLY AWARE that the plan has not been taken off the table!!!
Arming ourselves is the best way to protecting ourselves!! Anybody who does not stay ready for war is an easy target. We are not stupid idiots by the way!! Zimbabwe does not wish to be a target of imperialistic adventurism only 30 years after gaining freedom and independence.
It is better for Zimbabweans to get the little they are getting in health, education, in terms of food, salaries and other social needs than to be vulnerable to attack at any time by a small and militarily inferior country like Botswana.
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