Nkomo accuses Britain of hiding Zim’s mineral resources documentation

Nkomo accuses Britain of hiding Zim’s mineral resources documentation
By Edwin Mbulo in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Mon 29 Mar. 2010, 04:00 CAT

ZIMBAWEAN Vice-President John London Nkomo has accused the British of hiding documentation of Zimbabwe’s mineral resources. And Vice-President Nkomo has appealed to Africans not to rely on foreign investors in the exploitation of mineral resources.

During a Spatial Development Initiative meeting in Victoria Falls Town on Friday, Vice-President Nkomo accused Britain, which had colonised most of the southern African countries, of hiding documents of Zimbabwe’s mineral resources.

“Those that had colonised us had taken all the information and hidden it, everything that we had in terms of minerals was hidden and it is only now that records dating as far back as the 1800’s has been found that Zimbabwe has 32 types of mineral deposits and now we know that there are more. Let us exploit these resources to rebuild Africa. Why do we need an investor to come and mine gold? Why an investor to farm? Let us do it ourselves, that is why we are liberated. There is nothing like difficulties. These are challenges to make us think and not to rely on someone else,” he said.

Vice-President Nkomo caused laughter when he said that it was a moving moment to see two former jailbirds who became presidents meet during the opening ceremony of the Limpopo Bridge.

“Two jailbirds became presidents and it was exciting to see them coming together, teaming up to open the Limpopo Bridge. I was then minister of local government. Our borders are just artificial, it is after the 1884 Berlin Conference that foreigners made these artificial boundaries. Why do we need a visa to visit South Africa just because somebody created boundaries? Our ministers of tourism and foreign affairs can make things easier for our easy movement. South African Airways advertises that ‘come to South Africa and see the Victoria Falls’, yes it is true because one has to get there first and get on a plane to come to Zimbabwe and see the Falls. So we should also advertise that come to Zimbabwe and see the Kruger National Park,” he said.

Vice-President Nkomo charged that Africans would not claim to be free if they did not visit monuments that were used to incarcerate their freedom fighters such as the Robben Island.

“On both sides of the Beit Bridge in Zimbabwe and South Africa we have our brothers the Venda’s so we are one people and because of our common history and vision we must move forward together. Most of us and Zimbabweans are being educated in South Africa. President Robert Mugabe got a degree in South Africa, I got a degree in South Africa, so did Joshua Nkomo. There is something that South Africa has given us, so now Zimbabweans; let us now give something by strengthening this relationship. Our region and the two countries share a same vision,” said Nkomo.