We paid Eskom – Guvamatanga

Zimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary for Finance George Guvamatanga today said the government had paid South Africa’s power company, Eskom, US$10 million as far as his ministry is concerned because once the funds have been disbursed, payment has been made.

Eskom on Friday said it had not received any money from Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing serious power shortages and relies on imports from Mozambique and South Africa but it cannot currently get power because its owes the power utilities of the two countries about US$80 million.

Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa announced on Wednesday that Energy Minister Fortune Chasi had told cabinet that the government had paid Eskom US$10 million towards its debt and would soon be discussing power imports.

Questioned about the payment in Parliament today, Guvamatanga said once the ministry had disbursed the money, it considered this as payment, but there were processes to be followed and that process would ordinarily take seven days.

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