South Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has said that as much as South Africa would like to supply Zimbabwe with electricity, Zimbabwe also has to pay the money it owes to ESKOM. He also said that he will facilitate negotiations between Eskom of South Africa and Zesa Holdings with the view of increasing export output to Zimbabwe.
Speaking for the first time after meeting President Emmerson Mnangagwa on the sidelines of African Union Extra-Ordinary Summit in Niamey, Niger last week, Ramaphosa said:
…Mnangagwa and I had a wonderful bilateral meeting where we discussed a variety of issues and one of those was energy.
Zimbabwe has a shortage of energy at this point in time and draw a lot of energy from Kariba Dam and they have been going through a massive drought. Kariba Dam water levels have gone terribly low and they need more energy.
As a result, they would like South Africa to support, but they also have to pay the debt. We have always exported energy to Zimbabwe and indeed other African countries. As we go through our own challenges, we have to do a balancing act so that at least we are able to support them, but at the same time, making sure we look at our own interests.
Eskom decreased the quantity of electricity it was exporting to Zimbabwe as Zimbabwe was no longer servicing its debt. Ongoing negotiations are expected to result in Eskom resuming power supply to Zimbabwe.
More: Daily News
How embarrassing … years in arrears .but we fly in luxury jets … why ?
Zimbabwe is closed for business!
Zanu should never be allowed to have total control of government alone ever again and that should be part of reform of government structure that should take place before any meaningful talks can take place between Zanu and opposition, lest we risk perpetuating the crisis bedeviling Zimbabwe.
let the bustards come to their senses big spenders but can’t pay debts
Quite an embarrassment. You can even notice that the Zimbabwean President wears very expensive suits than his counterparts and yet he’s begging from them.
No doubt President Ramaphosa is very well dressed and I have much respect for him.