African resources still exploited by outsiders

ALTHOUGH the southern African region is blessed with abundant resources such as natural gas, coal, uranium and perennial rivers, outsiders are still exploiting these resources immensely.

Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe said this during the commissioning of the N$3,2 billion Caprivi Link Interconnector Line at Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi Region on Friday.Mugabe stated that the continent’s resources should first and foremost benefit and serve its own people. Noting the fact that the southern African region has been hit with electricity supply deficiencies in recent years, Mugabe said it is incumbent upon regional leaders to cooperate more, not only in meeting their energy needs, but also to harmonise international energy policies. He said power supply was a pillar which assured the success of economic development. Mugabe said a shortage of electricity increased the cost of production, which subsequently resulted in a country having to import cheap products from abroad.The Caprivi Link Interconnnector was commissioned by President Hifikepunye Pohamba. The event was also attended by Zambian president Rupiah Banda and president Ian Khama of Botswana. The Caprivi Link connects Namibia to the electricity networks of Zambia, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mozambique and South Africa, thereby creating an alternative route for power imports and exports to and from neighbouring countries. The 350 kilovolt (kV), 300 megawatt (MW) High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission line will provide an asynchronous link between the Namibian and the Zambian/Zimbabwean electricity networks to ensure reliable power transfer capabilities between the east and west of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).The link is also meant to ensure reliable power supply to the Caprivi Region, which has now been connected to the Namibian grid. The Caprivi Region previously received electricity from Zambia.- Nampa

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