via Zim-Zambia agree | The Herald October 9, 2013
Zimbabwe and Zambia have agreed on modalities to settle the outstanding US$70 million debt owed to Lusaka for the shared cost of the Kariba Dam construction paving the way for the two countries to commence the construction of the 1 650-megawatt Batoka hydro-power station.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi said work on the US$3 billion Batoka hydro-power station to be jointly owned by Zimbabwe and Zambia would finally commence after both countries agreed on the settlement plan of the Kariba dam debt.
He said Zambia was no longer a stumbling block in the construction of the Batoka hydro-power station that would provide at least 800 megawatts to each of the two countries and ease crippling power shortages.
“Work on the Batoka hydro-power station that will be jointly owned by Zimbabwe and Zambia will now start because our two countries have agreed on the payment modalities of the debt which we (Zimbabwe) owe Zambia over the construction of the Kariba dam,” said Minister Mumbengegwi in an interview last week.
“President (Michael) Sata has repeatedly made it open that Zimbabwe and Zambia are Siamese twins, which means what affects one of the twins affects the other, so we reached an agreement on how the debt Zimbabwe owes Zambia for the Kariba dam construction was going to be retired and this paved the way for co-operation on the Batoka power project.”
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