Cape Town – Former South African President Jacob Zuma is reportedly set to represent Belarus at a conference on the trade in African carbon credits in Zimbabwe.
Zuma, who has no known experience in the carbon credits industry but has ties with Russia, will deliver a special presentation on behalf of the Belarusian African Trade organisation on Friday, Bloomberg News reported.
“There is a very big role he has to play at that conference,” the re[port quoted Nkululeko Sibanda, spokesperson for the event, as saying.
Zuma was seen entering the event venue in Victoria Falls, the report said.
The former president is currently facing a corruption trial in South Africa but has denied any wrongdoing.
Zimbabwe, Belarus, and Russia are under US sanctions, but Zimbabwe maintains close ties with Belarus.
In May, the Zimbabwe government announced that 50% of all revenue from carbon offset projects should go to the treasury.
At least another 20% should go to local investors, it said, with foreign partners allowed to pocket no more than 30%.
All carbon credit deals are to be subjected to government approval, the government said, adding all agreements previously entered by international agencies and organisations with local authorities and others are thus “null and void”.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Getty Images
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
