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Mozambique looks forward to increasing the quantity and quality of energy supplied to Zimbabwe due to growing demand in the neighbouring country’s agriculture and mining sectors.
So said Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Verónica Macamo Ndlovu, in Maputo yesterday at the end of official talks between President Filipe Nyusi and his Zimbabwean counterpart, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has been on a state visit to the country since Sunday.
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“Due to the continuous demand of the agriculture sector and mining industry in Zimbabwe, we are looking to increase the quality of energy supplied,” Minister Macamo said. Electricity would be supplied under an agreement signed in 1997 between Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB), state-owned Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) and the Zimbabwe Energy Supply Authority (ZESA).
In March, EDM and ZESA signed a contract for the supply of 50MW of electricity to Zimbabwe for a period of three years. It constitutes a renewal of the previous agreement, which expired on December 31, 2021, but now includes additional energy of up to 150MW.
Still yesterday, presidents Nyusi and Mangagwa witnessed the signing of the agreement that transforms the Joint Cooperation Commission into a Binational Commission, co-chaired by the two heads of state, to be held once a year in Mozambique, starting in 2023.
At the same event, memoranda of understanding were signed in the areas of higher education, science and technologies, justice, as well as search and rescue, in the event of air accidents in each of the countries.
In talks yesterday, Mozambique showed interest in ensuring the supply and control of the volume of water processed in the rainy and dry seasons, since Zimbabwe is upstream of the water courses shared by the two countries, in particular the rivers Púnguè, Búzi, Save and Limpopo.
Minister Macamo also highlighted the countries’ common interest in cooperating in the areas of agriculture, tourism and health.
Frederick Shava, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe, highlighted that in the talks the two heads of state had explored new areas of cooperation such as higher education, science and technology and innovation.
“Our two leaders emphasised the implementation of agreements and memoranda in order to transform the economies of both countries, including improving the living standards of our two peoples,” Shava said.
As part of his agenda in Mozambique, the Zimbabwean statesman yesterday laid a wreath in memory of national liberation struggle fighters at Praça dos Heróis Moçambicanos, visited EDM facilities and received the keys to the city of Maputo.
This Tuesday (05-04), President Mnangagwa is visiting the Maputo Thermoelectric Power Station, and is being received in audience at the Assembly of the Republic.
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