§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the deployment of Zimbabwean forces in protecting mining interests in the Congo; and who owns those interests. [120868]
§ Mr. HainWe have seen reports that the Zimbabwean Defence Forces are deployed in areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which contain the main diamond fields and reserves of copper and cobalt. We understand that exploitation of diamonds is principally carried out by the Societe Miniere de Bakwanga (MIBA), and production of copper and cobalt by GECAMINES. Both of these companies are substantially DRC state-owned, but there are reports that they have entered into joint venture with various partners. There are also reports that the Zimbabwean Defence Force has set up a company called OSLEG Private Limited, which includes capital provided by private investors, to exploit DRC's mineral reserves.