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Zimbabwe: Mozambique Suspends Power to Country Over Unpaid Debt
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SW Radio Africa (London)
8 January 2008
Posted to the web 8 January 2008
Tererai Karimakwenda
Zimbabweans can expect to spend more time in the dark after the Mozambique power utility company, Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa, suspended supplies to Zimbabwe over an outstanding debt of US$26 million.
This development was confirmed in a report in the state run Herald newspaper.
Zimbabwe's power imports have been falling for various reasons. South Africa's Eskom has stopped supplies claiming "some operational hitches" at its power-generating plants. The Democratic Republic of Congo has also stopped power supplies to Zimbabwe because of 'problems with it's transmission network.' Analysts say the real reason these countries have cut Zimbabwe off is because of unpaid debts.
Currently, Zimbabwe's electricity is provided by Hwange Thermal Power Station and Kariba South. But their supplies fall far short of the daily requirements.
Additionally the Herald revealed there had been a major breakdown at Hwange and a minor fault at Kariba over the weekend. Zesa Holdings chief executive Engineer Benjamin Rafemoyo is quoted as saying power disruptions and blackouts were being experienced in parts of the country due to the breakdown. This was a major understatement since there are massive power outages everywhere. Mismanagement and corruption by successive ZESA boards have also contributed to the crisis.
Critics say the government has no plan and their priorities are completely misplaced. The life of ordinary Zimbabweans seems to be last on their list. Recent reports show that the ruling party plans to spend $Z20 trillion on Nissan 4x4 vehicles to be used by ZANU-PF during the elections. This is close to US$5 million, on vehicles, when people are going for days and weeks without electricity. That amount is enough for a monthly installment to a power supplier.
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Reverend Nick Mkaronda, an activist formerly with the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, believes Zimbabwe is moving towards anarchy. He said the government is printing money without creating any wealth and all programmes that produce wealth have been stalled by government intervention. The Reverend explained that all expenditure for the last 7 years has been on ZANU-PF and not on the national agenda.
Explaining the lack of consideration for the ordinary citizen, Mkaronda said the government lost a sense of priority long ago. He believes what is motivating members of the Mugabe regime right now is a desire to die in their positions so that they are not held accountable.
The areas hit worst by the blackouts this weekend included parts of Harare, Kadoma, Chipinge, Chegutu, Chiredzi and Marondera. The state media said telephones were so badly affected that most landlines were down. Reverend Mkaronda said it will take a long time to redevelop the country's infrastructure, since it took 27 years to destroy it.
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