Mr Chairman, Honourable Ministers, Ambassadors and Distinguished Guests.
First for a moment may I dwell on the theme in your speech, Mr Chairman: the Lancaster House Conference and what it has led to from there. For me it was a special thrill to be the Prime Minister that was responsible for bringing that Conference to such a successful conclusion and then being the first British Prime Minister since Independence to visit this country.
As I was just sitting pondering on these things before I rose to speak to you, I was looking at the flags flying together which you have seen during my visit—the flag of Zimbabwe and the flag of the United Kingdom—flying together as a visible symbol of the true and enduring friendship that has sprung up since Independence and which will exist long into the future. [end p1]
It seems to me that the history which I have just recounted shows not only the friendship between our two countries, but it shows something else of much wider application: that the problems of some African countries can be settled by negotiation, persistent negotiation, persevering negotiation, provided there is a will on all sides to come to a peaceful conclusion and provided it is understood that the election which follows will be honoured whatsoever the result may be.
That was one of the kind of formulae which I think could only have been invented in Britain and it showed that it has very very good worldwide application.
And so it is perhaps not surprising that this great investment should be a British one, to add to those many other investments which came pre-Independence.
The United Kingdom has always been outward-looking by its history and that is taken up these days by the United Kingdom being a very large overseas investor. Certainly a number of investors like to come to our country but in fact we invest four times as much overseas as is now invested in Britain.
That I believe is as it should be in keeping with our history and other abiding interests in what happens in the rest of the world, knowing that these days foreign affairs are not foreign affairs any more, they affect so much the domestic market in each and every country. [end p2]
And so, as an example of a wonderful British … . investments, I am delighted to be here today for this particular one.
Now I appreciated very much what our first two speakers have said. You came here knowing that you would find certain things; knowing that you would find both a good economy and a potentially even better economy, for the potential in this country is enormous, both in agriculture and in minerals and in tourism and in many many other industries.
Not only is that potential enormous, but so much more investment is needed. As we have been around yesterday and today and have seen so many children in primary schools, in secondary schools, and we know the size of families, and someone has to think of finding them all jobs in the future.
And as I know Ministers here who attended our talks yesterday will bear me out, I said to Mr Mugabe: “You know if you want to create wealth, just look and see what we have done in Britain in the last ten years and try the same system” . It not only has the advantage of creating the wealth which raises the higher standard of living, it has the advantage of creating the wealth to put to the education you so sorely need more of, and the social services. [end p3]
So you came looking for a good economy with great potential and you found it in Zimbabwe. You came looking, as all investors do, for something which is almost equally important: political stability. You are going to put your money in a country for a long time and if it is a long enduring investment you do seek that political stability and you find it in Zimbabwe.
And the third thing you will seek is not yet born, but it is on the way to being born, that is a good investment code for those who invest in Zimbabwe. Of course, because if you are going to put your money into a country then the country is entitled to a reasonable return and so are those who put their investments in its future.
Now there is a great Investment Conference on Zimbabwe in London in May and I have reason to believe that that investment code of practice will be a good one and will be out before that Conference is held.
So I believe that in coming here you will have found those three things. And I believe that you are probably a flagship for other investments too that will come to this country, because they are looking for the same things that you have found.
And as you pointed out in your eloquent speech, Mr Chairman, we are welcome in Zimbabwe and that too makes a tremendous difference. [end p4]
Now my task here is to open this gold mine. Now I go round opening quite a number of things and they all have one thing in common: if they are good, they have been working well for quite a time before they are opened. And I gather that your record has been quite outstanding and we would like to congratulate all those who have worked on this great undertaking on what you have achieved so far. It gives us enormous hope for the future and it just shows the kind of leadership and management and thought for all those who work here that you have been able to provide on this great project.
And so it is, with very great pleasure, that I have the duty of opening to it. But added to that duty was just something else, some other great advantage held out, that one day I might open a platinum mine as well. I would like to say that would be very very welcome because basically there are only two producers of platinum in the world: one is in South Africa and one is in the Soviet Union, and I am a great believer in more competition. I never like a monopoly or monotony so another platinum mine would be very very valuable both for the world as a whole and for any country in which there is sufficient platinum to develop.
But for the time being we have to be satisfied with gold and it really is a rather wonderful commodity, not only for its economic values but also for its emotional overtones, people will always regard gold as something very special. [end p5]
And so this really is a golden day in my life and it gives me enormous pleasure, and something which I shall ever remember, to declare this Frieda Rebecca Gold Mine formally opened and to wish all those who have invested in it, and who work in it, the greatest prosperity and sense of fulfilment in the future.