Russian billionaire commits to corona fight

ELLANIE SMIT

Russian billionaire Rashid Sardarov, who owns the Marula Game Ranch near Dordabis, has committed to contributing to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in Namibia.
The total value of the pledged donation is N$405 000 in medical materials.
According to a statement, Sardarov decided that Marula Game Ranch and Comsar Properties SA, as corporate citizens in Namibia that operate under a conducive environment created by government, must contribute to the fight against coronavirus.
This will be done in the form of medical materials such as facemasks, medical goggles, gloves, personal protective equipment and other necessities.
“Modalities will immediately be worked out with government’s appropriate officials in order to source and deliver the materials on an urgent basis.”
Sardarov bought several farms in the Dordabis area measuring 28 000 hectares (around 28 000 football fields) in 2013 through his Switzerland-based company Comsar Properties SA.
The state-of-the-art ranch known as Marula Game Ranch was built on the land.
Marula Game Ranch, located about 70 kilometres from Windhoek, boasts the Marula Lodge, Marula Farm House and Otjimukona Lodge.
Sardarov was controversially granted a 99-year lease for four farms he purchased and then donated to the Namibian government in 2018.
Sardarov is the chairman and founder of Comsar Energy Group and the South-Ural Industrial Company (SUIC), both of which are large private companies in Russia, with a presence in several countries in Eastern Europe. The assets of the companies amount to US$2.2 billion, according to the SUIC website.