WINDHOEK (Sputnik) — Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev, who is currently on a visit to Southern Africa, has stated he believed the ongoing political crisis in Zimbabwe would barely affect the capital flows to the countries of the region.
"I would like to look at the situation from the other side. In most cases, instability emerges, when people are not satisfied with their lives. That's why, it is necessary to attract money to the country in order to ensure stability, to attract investors, to create new enterprises… If the country is developing, there will be no grounds for instability, that's why, in order to avoid destabilization, Zimbabwe, as well as any other country, should simply develop its economy," Trutnev explained.
Russia has been investing in several projects in southern African nations, for example, the ALROSA group of diamond mining companies is engaged in several projects in Zimbabwe, while mining and steelmaking company Evraz and Severstal steel and steel-related mining company conduct their business in South Africa.
READ MORE: Zimbabwe: Mugabe Claims 'Legitimacy,' Army, Opposition Insist on Transition
Situation in Zimbabwe
The upheaval in the African country began earlier this week with the the ruling party announcing that the country was in a "bloodless transition" of power from 93-year-old Robert Mugabe, who was reportedly put under heavy guard by the military and is preparing to announce his resignation. The military, however, said in a televised statement on Wednesday that there was no "military takeover of government" underway and that the president was "safe and sound."
In the latest turn of events, Mugabe made his first public appearence since the beginning of the crisis, arriving at a university graduation ceremony in Harare.
