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CALEDONIA Mining Corporation is the first confirmed listing on Zimbabwe’s new stock exchange, the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX) 10 days before trading on the bourse is scheduled to start.

VFEX is wholly owned by the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) and will be based in the resort town of Victoria Falls and will trade in foreign currency exclusively as the Government seeks to lure much-needed dollars. It remains in talks to secure more listings.

“We understand that the proposal is for the exchange to trade solely in US dollars and would expect this continued assurance,” Caledonia spokeswoman Camilla Horsfall said in an emailed response to Bloomberg.

The Jersey-based mineral exploration and development company, which owns the Blanket Mine in Gwanda, Matabeleland South province, is in talks to acquire further mining assets.

VFEX is offering incentives, including a waiver on capital gains tax. It also plans to provide political-risk cover.

While the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will initially provide settlement for trades, Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube wants this task handed to a global lender, and talks are underway with firms in Africa, Asia and Europe.

VFEX in August called for security dealers, sponsors, custodians, transfer firms and investment management companies to participate, but only local companies have so far expressed an interest, according to chief executive officer Justin Bgoni. — Bloomberg