PROGRESS at the Batoka power project on the Zambezi River is reportedly said to have hit a snag afterZimbabwe and Zambia, involved in the project failed to secure more than $US3.5 billion needed for the completion of the project, believed to be the only panacea to the two neighbouring countries' perennial power woes.
Sources close to the project told The Zimbabwe Guardian this week that there has been no progress on the project since it was mooted during the time of Kenneth Kaunda, the former Zambian President who was ousted by Fredrick Chiluba.
“The fact that the project is jointly owned by two countries seems to be scaring away potential investors from the project. There seems to be a belief among western donors that Zimbabwe is not a safe country to invest in. Again it seems the two countries have different priorities,” said the source privy to the project.
More than $US 3.5 billion is required by the two countries for the construction of the dam, installation of power plants and other relevant infrastructure on the northern and southern ends of the damto be built on the Batoka Gorge.
The project management is also said to be battling to secure permission from the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), which holds the charter to manage the ZambeziRiver.
Zimbabwe is in the midst of devastating power shortages which have put both industry and commerce to a standstill.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the burial of the late Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa in Lusaka this week, President Robert Mugabe said he was saddened that the Zambian president had died when the project was still being pursued.
When did the Batoka power project start? Having grown up in Kariba as well having a parent who was working for the Zambezi River Authority which manages the Zambezi river, I understand this project started in the 1990s (targeted sanctions were introduced after 1999). I remember ZRA workers being so excited about it as it meant more jobs and allowances. When Chiluba came into power everything changed. Remember, Mugabe was unpopular with Chiluba since he supported Kaunda and provided lots of maize to Kaunda for his election campaign (in the early 1990s Southern Africa suffered a serious food insecurity due to drought, however, Zimbabwe had excess grain in its reserves so could export some of it to Zambia). This to a certain extent contributed to the problem. I remember a who had gone to work for the Batoka Power Project came back with a long face since the project had suffered a setback. I also remember another neighbor who worked for ZRA saying that Chiluba was the problem since he had said Zambia had enough electricity and could do without the Batoka power plant. If this is true, then it's being too simplistic to blame the sanctions on this. You are also being unfair to the Zambians by saying that they are supporting targeted sanctions against Mugabe and his cronies.
The issue of 15 members of the same party contesting for the presidential nomination to me is not a problem. The problem has to do with our leaders who think that they are immortal and will rule for ever. As a result, fail to groom their successors. This is common in Africa including Zimbabwe. We need to learn from the Zambian experience so that we don't face a similar situation. I understand that the party has elected Banda as their presidential candidate.
Donette Read Kruger • na. Subject: PARDON ME? Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:47:52 • Zambia must STOP blaming Zimbabwe because Zambia itself has failed for many years now to raise the US$3.5mbucks required for this project.
Zimbabwe is not in a position to ask anyone for anything because of Sanctions supported by Zambia. Its Zambia's own fault who keep indicating by their track record that ZW is not a safe bet - yet Anglo and Camec have invested in ZW.
Apparently there were 15 wannabees in Zambia trying to take over the Presidential seat long before their late leader was even cold in his grave! how is that for a sign that Zambia is not as safe a bet as everyone makes out?
I too would be very cautious in investing US$3.5 in bridging a gap with Zambia who obviously do not truly believe in sharing and supporting everything with its southern neighbours.
Sanctions have had far reaching effects on the cogs in the wheels of SADC and this is just another one in the rubble of results.
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