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Mr Dangote

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter—
DANGOTE Group experts, who are here to finalise investment deals agreed with Zimbabwe, were yesterday working to secure a registration certificate that will set the tone for intensive discussions with various ministries on specific projects. The team, which includes geologists and lawyers among other technocrats, also visited the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to scout for relevant information in line with its interests.

Ms Josey Mahachi, a Nigeria-based TV presenter travelling with the group, yesterday said comprehensive discussions with specific ministries would begin either today or tomorrow after the issuance of the registration certificate. Mr Aliko Dangote, who is Africa’s richest man with a net worth of $18 billion according to Forbes Magazine rankings, is the founder of the Dangote Group.

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He met President Mugabe at State House during his visit and intimated that “we have already made our mind to invest” in Zimbabwe. Dangote Group has expressed interest to invest in power generation, coal mining and cement manufacturing.

Ms Mahachi was optimistic that the registration certificate would be issued at the shortest possible time. “Today (yesterday) the team has been working on the legal paperwork and it was hoping to get the registration certificate before the end of day,” she said.

“Geologists also visited the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to check for the necessary information they want. “When they have all the necessary paperwork in place, they will then meet specific ministries for further discussions possibly tomorrow or Thursday.”

The six-member team is being led by Dr Abdul Mukhtar who had already committed that they would only leave Zimbabwe after sealing the investment deals.

On Monday, the team had a joint meeting with various ministries that was chaired by Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Mr Justin Mupamhanga.

The meeting was aimed at clearing hurdles that might impede speedy facilitation of the investment deals. It is understood that the Dangote Group team of experts would have meetings with the ministries of Energy and Power Development, Finance and State institutions such as the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority among other key departments.

Dangote Group’s investments are expected to add up to other mega investments that are being finalised between Zimbabwe and China. This followed the signing of several investment deals between President Mugabe and his Chinese counterpart XI Jinping in August last year. Zimbabwe is turning out to be an attractive investment destination in Africa and since the beginning of the year the country had hosted more than 60 investment delegations across the globe.