ZIMBABWE'S electricity supplier owes Mozambique's power company Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) at least R395million, according to reports published yesterday.

ZIMBABWE'S electricity supplier owes Mozambique's power company Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) at least R395million, according to reports published yesterday.

Mozambique's news agency AIM quoted Mozambican Energy minister Salvador Namburete as saying that while its neighbour was failing to pay its bill, there were no immediate plans to switch power off as the supply was Mozambique's way of helping its neighbour recover from its economic crisis.

"The Zimbabwean inclusive government needs our help to recover from its economic crisis, and later it can pay its creditors," he said.

Namburete said that in April Zimbabwe's minister of energy visited Maputo to negotiate for more time to pay.

"Parties to the agreement need to set out specific dates for the repayment of the credit," he said. - Sapa