The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Saturday, October 31, 1992 — Zvishavane — President Mugabe yesterday assured the nation that power rationing would not continue for a very long time as Zimbabwe was sourcing more electricity from neighbouring countries.

President Mugabe, who described the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority as “completely inefficient” said the new Minister of Transport and Energy, Mr Dennis Norman, would sort out the “mess” at the parastatal and promised that the power crisis would not continue for long.

The President was in Zvishavane during his meetthe-people tour.

Cde Mugabe said for Zimbabwe to be self-sufficient in electricity, the Government had to invest in the Hwange thermal power station.

“We know it’s a very expensive venture, but we have no choice but to invest in the project,” he said.

Zimbabwe was now sourcing 60 megawatts from South Africa, mainly for the southern region. Botswana would provide an additional 50 megawatts while negotiations were under way to source 200 megawatts from Mozambique, said the President.

He was taken on a tour of Sabi Mine, bought by the Government in 1984 , by the mine’s general manager Mr Callisto Takafuma, and the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation general manager and chief executive Mr Stephen Matema.

Sabi Gold Mine has deposits valued at $1,5 billion but the Government owned ZMDC lacks funds to invest in the project, the President was told.

Cde Mugabe was told by Mr Takafuma that the mine was producing an average of 27kg of gold per month. Profits at the mine had increased from $500 000 in 1985 to $6,5 million this year.