JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) \u2013 While many of the countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region continue to face various challenges, a panel at this year\u2019s virtual Junior Mining Indaba found that Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continue to perform well.<\/p>\n
As an example, Caledonia Mining CEO Steve Curtis said that, while Zimbabwe had a very negative investor sentiment, owing mainly to poor infrastructure, a lack of power and difficulties in obtaining funding, doing business in the country still faced \u201cvery few hurdles\u201d once a project was settled.<\/p>\n
Thanks to the country\u2019s abundant resources, and subsequent opportunities, Curtis has found Zimbabwe \u201ca good place to be\u201d, especially considering that its government is \u201cvery willing\u201d and keen to assist.<\/p>\n
DRA Global projects executive VP Alistair Hodgkinson shared Curtis\u2019 sentiment on Zimbabwe, adding that the country had \u201cgreat communities\u201d and a \u201cskilled workforce\u201d, ultimately making project implementation easier, despite potential funding delays.<\/p>\n
DRA, in this regard, foresees a \u201csubstantial amount of work\u201d in the country, which is likely to increase once challenges have been addressed.<\/p>\n
The same positivity, unfortunately, was not as forthcoming for Zambia and Tanzania, which were nonetheless both suggested investment destinations despite investment and opportunity activities being \u201cvery quiet\u201d in the region, according to Hodgkinson.<\/p>\n
On the DRC front, DRC Chamber of Mines president and Kipushi Corporation MD Louis Watum said the country was a \u201chigh risk, high reward\u201d investment destination, especially considering the country\u2019s \u201cdynamic of political challenges\u201d.<\/p>\n
In addition to this, a lack of robust infrastructure, power and poor governance \u201climits potential\u201d for prospective junior miners in the DRC. Should junior miners still be interested in this region, however, Watum emphasised the need \u201cto compile a strong, local management team who understands the local complexities\u201d as being key for achieving success.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Botswana Chamber of Mines CEO Charles Siwawa called Botswana \u201cthe place to go\u201d if prospective junior miners and explorers are \u201clooking at diamond prospecting\u201d. Copper is another route, though Botswana \u201ccan\u2019t compete with its neighbours\u201d in terms of its mineralogy.<\/p>\n
Botswana has slowly seen an uptick in investment and exploration opportunities since the advent of adequate infrastructure on the western corridor of the country, he added, noting that it has \u201copened opportunities\u201d and that \u201cgovernment\u2019s eagerness to attract investors and exploration in Botswana\u201d has led to the country\u2019s leadership prioritising the safeguarding of investors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) \u2013 While many of the countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region continue to face various challenges, a panel at this year\u2019s virtual Junior Mining Indaba found that Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continue to perform well. As an example, Caledonia Mining CEO Steve Curtis said that, while […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":20327,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,12],"tags":[585],"class_list":["post-29706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-policy","tag-sadc"],"yoast_head":"\n