By Chakamwe Chakamwe

THIS week I was surprised to hear from a spokesperson of an Israeli company in Bulawayo that Zimbabwe was going to be the richest country on the African continent in a year’s time.
While the Israeli man appeared to wish our dear country well, that did not stop me asking the questions below.
What did he mean in a year’s time? Did he mean as we write, Zimbabwe is not rich?
The truth is Zimbabwe is already rich; that the people who are shouting the false story that it is poor are the usual racist imperialists who would like to come into our country and steal our resources under the false guise that they will be developing the country.
For us to get a good picture of the extent of the mineral wealth in our country, we shall start by looking at the creation of Zimbabwe by God and the geology of the country itself.
According to T.V. Bulpin’s book, To the Banks of the Zambezi, Zimbabwe was one of the countries created by God first.
He argues: “Granite masses are the oldest rocks to be found on earth.”
Bulpin goes on to say “Wherever the granite is seen – man can hopefully expect to find gold and other valuable mineralisation in the surrounding country.
“In Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) this mineralisation is particularly varied with payable deposits so far found of over 60 different minerals.”
To date over 100 minerals have since been discovered in Zimbabwe. The other interesting geological feature in Zimbabwe is the structure called ‘The Great Dyke of Zimbabwe’.
This structure appears to be almost unique to Zimbabwe.
“It is a gigantic trough about four miles wide and over 320 miles long running South to North almost the whole length of the country and following the line of fracture of the Great Rift valley of Africa.
“The trough is immensely rich in minerals including one of the world’s largest deposits of high grade chrome as well as enormous amounts of asbestos.”
It is now common cause that Zimbabwe is the number one world Diamond producer estimated to provide over 25 percent of the world market in a very short time to come now that the trade ban on our diamonds has been lifted.
Yes, the diamond riches of Zimbabwe are mind boggling.
Then there is the Platinum group of minerals.
The story of the Platinum group of minerals shows how very rich Zimbabwe is. We are the world’s second largest producer of the precious mineral after South Africa.
However, Zimbabwe beats its Southern neighbour on the quality of its ‘stone’ and the ease with which the minerals is mined in the country.
Zimbabwe’s Platinum ‘stone’ sometimes has 14 mineral by- products while the South African ‘stone’ which has an average of six and seven mineral by- products.
The platinum reserves in Zimbabwe are estimated to last for the next 400 years.
Zimbabwe is also a leader with huge reserves of coal, uranium, gas, lithium, gold, antimony, iron, steel, chrome.
In terms of minerals, Zimbabwe is not only the richest country in Africa, but in the world.
Zimbabwe is now an oil producer.
The giant ethanol plant that was constructed at Chisumbanje is now up and running.
It is estimated that in a few years the plant will produce 500 million litres annually making Zimbabwe fuel self-sufficient like Brazil.
There is nothing that stops us from becoming another Qatar!
We now come to tourism products.
Delegates coming from all over the world who attended the recently held United Nations World Tourism Organisations (UNWTO) Annual General Assembly in Victoria Falls were mesmerised by not only the majestic Victoria Falls, but by other tourism destinations they visited.
They were happy to discover that the strength of Zimbabwe’s tourism products lies in its variety.
One does not come to Zimbabwe to visit the Victoria Falls only.
The country is endowed with other rich tourism products such as, the mighty Hwange game reserve with a variety of animal species from the elephant to the smallest ones, Mana pools, the mighty Kariba Dam and the Zambezi escarpment, the Matopos, the Great Zimbabwe, the iconic eastern Highlands, the beautiful African villages around the country.
The richness of Zimbabwe in tourism attractions is beyond measure.
Then we come to its people.
First and foremost Zimbabweans are the friendliest people you can ever find anywhere.
Secondly, Zimbabwe has the largest educated population in Africa.
Anyone who wants to do business in Zimbabwe no matter how sophisticated is assured of getting the requisite manpower.
With all the above riches, it surprises me why Zimbabweans are not walking tall and working hard to safeguard their country’s riches.
We should not be distracted by the noises from racists in Europe who arrogantly lie that Zimbabwe is a poor country.
All the talk about ‘Third World’ ‘developing’ ‘poor’ and so on are what in South Africa they call ‘Tsotsi Taal’ – the language of the tsotsi – the criminal.
It is meant to confuse you to enable them to loot your country.
The truth is that in terms of minerals, Zimbabwe is richer than Britain.
This country is very rich as we have shown.
All what is required is for us to join hands with the right investors and not looters and together exploit the riches of our country and in the process uplift the living standards of our people.