Mangoma dates Mozambique
By Xolisani Ncube, Staff Writer
Friday, 16 March 2012 12:43
HARARE – Energy and Power Development minister Elton Mangoma has been jolted
into action as large parts of the country face darkness over Mozambique’s
decision to switch off Zimbabwe due to an unpaid debt.
Mangoma told the Daily News yesterday he would be travelling to Mozambique
to discuss the matter, although there was no hint that Zimbabwe had the
money to pay up.
He said Maputo’s decision to cut electricity supply will “certainly” affect
most parts of the country as Mozambique was the only country that was still
supplying power to Zimbabwe.
He said the debt by power utility Zesa Holdings (Zesa) would be dealt with
by forcing consumers to pay their arrears with the firm as well as use
political means.
“We will continue disconnecting power to people so that they can pay their
dues as well as deal with the issue politically. I will be travelling to
Maputo soon so that we can find a solution,” said Mangoma.
Mangoma said the way in which Hydro Cahora Bassa (HCB) cut off the power had
no legal binding as it was supposed to give the country its quarter
allocation of the paid debt.
“They are supplying only 25 megawatts, a quantity which is being produced by
our Harare power station,” said Mangoma.
Zesa owes Mozambique’s Hydro Cahora Bassa (HCB) over $75 million for power
exported to Zimbabwe.
The country’s power supply authority, Zesa was importing between 100 and 185
Megawatts from (HCB), but it will only be receiving 25 megawatts forthwith.
The Energy minister had earlier told the Daily News that government had made
arrangements to clear the debt but HCB would have none of that.
So far, three other regional countries have already terminated their
assistance to Harare due to its poor track record of debt settlement.
Before the fallout with other countries, Harare used to get 35 percent of
its total distributed power from Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo and
South Africa.
The national power supply authority on the other hand is battling to recover
over $400 million it is owed by customers hence it has resorted to power
disconnections.
The country requires 3500 megawatts but it could only supply 1400 megawatts,
a feat which is likely to worsen the current crisis.