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NewsDay

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Zim busts UK sanctions

Politics
Munyati Thermal Power Station is in the process of acquiring spare parts worth an estimated $2 million from the United Kingdom despite the fact that the country has imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe. Responding to questions on how government-owned companies were managing to do business with the UK given the countries’ cold relationship, Minister of Parastatals […]

Munyati Thermal Power Station is in the process of acquiring spare parts worth an estimated $2 million from the United Kingdom despite the fact that the country has imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Responding to questions on how government-owned companies were managing to do business with the UK given the countries’ cold relationship, Minister of Parastatals and State Enterprises Gorden Moyo said the business transactions between the Zimbabwean government-owned companies and the UK was a sign that the GPA was moving in a positive direction.

“This is a sign there is thawing of relations between our governments and that Zimbabwe can claim her place among world leaders if democracy is consummated.

“We are in the process of re-engaging the European Union and other Western countries as clearly stated in article 4 of the GPA,” said Moyo.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T has repeatedly said Zimbabwe was not under economic sanctions but restrictive measures targeted at certain members in Zanu PF associated with alleged human rights violations.

Built in 1946 by the British, Munyati power station is undergoing maintenance work as the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) works towards stabilising critical power supplies.

Station manager Kenneth Maswera told Moyo that he had personally flown to the UK to acquire spares for the critical maintenance of four boilers which were still not running almost a year after the power station resumed operations.

Maswera said he expected the delivery of the spare parts in the next two months.

Successful maintenance of the station would boost power production from the current 40% to around 80%. Although Maswera and his boss ZPC managing director Noah Gwariro were not at liberty to reveal the amount of money government would pump into the importation of spare parts from the UK, close sources said up to $2 million was required.