On Russia-Zimbabwe Project “Darwendale”

On January 30, Russian-Zimbabwean Joint Company “Great Dyke Investments” held a box cut ceremony to mark the start of the first underground mine construction aimed at extracting platinum group metals in accordance with the 2014 Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

Russian Ambassador H.E. Mr. Nikolai Krasilnikov delivered a speech and outlined the role of Darwendale exploration as a locomotive of the whole complex of bilateral cooperation.

Zimbabwean Minister of Mines and Mining Development Hon. Winston Chitando stated that the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe H.E. Cde. Emmerson D. Mnangagwa considered this joint project with Russia to be one of the most important in the core sector of national economy and crucial for the attainment of Vision-2030.

Minister of State for Mashonaland East Province Hon. Mary Mliswa and Member of the National Assembly for Norton Constituency Hon. Temba Mliswa highlighted the prospects of employment and training of personnel in Russia, as well as the fact that the project fully satisfied the requirements of
the Zimbabwean Environmental Management Agency and met the interests of the local community.

With a contribution of local chiefs the first mine received a name of the Norton totem animal – zebra Mwendamberi.