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Zimbabwe: Country, Moza Commission Fuel Tanks
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
22 December 2007
Posted to the web 24 December 2007
Caesar Zvayi Recently
Beira
ZIMBABWE and Mozambique yesterday took bilateral relations to another level when they signed an Agreement on the Development of the Beira Corridor soon after commissioning jointly owned fuel tanks at INPETRO complex in Beira.
The tanks, which were built over the past 18 months and became operational 10 months ago, will receive fuel imported from the Middle East and Equatorial Guinea, before it is pumped to Feruka Oil Refinery in Mutare for refining en route to the Noczim depot in Msasa, Harare, for distribution.
In the short term, the facility will serve Zimbabwe and Mozambique, but in the long term it is envisaged that the refined fuel will be sold throughout Sadc boosting the economies of Mozambique and Zimbabwe through proceeds accruing from handling fees.
Zimbabwe, which is facing a fuel crunch due to illegal Western sanctions, has a 40 percent stake in the fuel tanks, Independent Petroleum Group of Kuwait has 40 percent, while Mozambique has a 20 percent stake.
Speaking after the signing of the agreement, which will facilitate the movement of the petroleum at the Mozambique Ports and Railway building, President Mugabe hailed the excellent relations between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, saying the two countries were like twins which should work together for mutual development.
"We are partners not just of yesterday, we are partners - yes of yesterday but partners of today and partners of tomorrow and we continue to grow together because the cause of one is the cause of the other. As brothers and sisters on either side, we share a common culture, we share a common geography, we share a common history.
"We can't deny that as it were, we are twins, the suffering
of one is the suffering of the other. If there is a headache here, there is also a headache in Zimbabwe, a stomach ache in Zimbabwe, is a stomach ache in Mozambique, and this is how we are, and that is how we feel, and that is how we should also ourselves seek to operate so that we succeed together, and of course avoid failing because the failure of one will be the failure of the other.
"What this means is we must protect our economies, protect our sovereignty, protect our freedom, which we sought and fought for together. That way we shall indeed pass together to the future generations this cultural virtue that we have developed and pass also this heritage that is ours today."
The President said the fuel tanks will not only handle store and despatch fuel, but will also engender and dynamise the Zimbabwean economy and promote regional development.
"We are not talking here of only bilateral relations, that is relations between Mozambique and Zimbabwe. But, in fact, when you look at it, it is a relationship that is meant to enhance other relationships we have with outside markets. So we are able also to go to their markets, so we are able also to go to their own sources of supply of those goods, those capital inputs that we require in order for us to serve our own economies. So what is a bilateral relationship turns out eventually to be a multilateral relationship."
The opening of the fuel tanks and signing of the agreement, the President said, give Zimbabwe and Mozambique the means to add to the vitality of their performance in ensuring that bilateral co-operation is enhanced.
"We fought for our own freedom and the regaining of our sovereignty in Mozambique and Zimbabwe, and sovereignty having come to Mozambique we still had to work together to protect it against the invasion that was aimed at destroying it."
The President said having attained and defended their sovereignty and political independence, Zimbabwe and Mozambique were now duty-bound to work for economic independence.
President Armando Guebuza concurred saying the fuel tanks and Development Agreement would facilitate the full utilisation of the infrastructure of the Beira Development Corridor.
"Seen in the context of variable geometry, these two infrastructures are important vehicles of the ongoing co-operation in our region. The Beira Development Corridor, which consists of the port complex, road and railway, is one of the backbones for that co-operation, its greater vitality requires more and more intensive utilisation, thus facilitating the movement of goods and services."
The Beira Development Corridor, he said, interconnects with other corridors through a network of roads and rails making it a node for the development of the region.
Apart from enhancing investment and trade, the Beira Development Corridor - that links Mutare to Beira - will also promote the free movemnent of goods between Mozambique and Zimbabwe, among other things.
Zimbabwe and Mozambique share excellent relations that recently culminated in the scrapping of visa requirements for citizens of the two countries.
The opening of the fuel tanks and the signing ceremony were witnessed by Minister of Energy and Power Development Cde Mike Nyambuya, Minister of Transport and Communications Cde Christopher Mushohwe, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and Deputy Minister of Industry, International Trade Cde Phineas Chihota, and senior Government officials. Mozambique was also represented by several government ministers.
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Meanwhile, President Mugabe returned home yesterday afternnon.
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