Fuel crisis hits Zimbabwe's airport

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Grassroots Information Coordination Center (GICC) : One Thread

Saturday, 26 August, 2000, 10:37 GMT 11:37 UK Fuel crisis hits airport

By Grant Ferrett in Harare Zimbabwe's long-running fuel shortage has worsened dramatically, with the country's main airport in the capital Harare running out of aviation fuel.

International airlines have been forced to divert their aircraft.

The country's major fuel supplier temporarily halted deliveries last week after Zimbabwe failed to make payments because of a serious shortage of hard currency.

The controversy surrounding the government's land reform programme has exacerbated the economic crisis.

Motorists in Zimbabwe have become used to going without fuel since shortages first developed last December.

An almost complete absence of foreign currency means the country simply does not have the money to pay for essential imports, such as fuel and electricity.

Until now, though, supplies of jet aviation fuel have been maintained.

Robert Mugabe is continuing with his policy of land reform But in the past week, flights from South Africa, Egypt and Britain have all been diverted in search of fuel.

The British Airways flight from Harare to London is now stopping off in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, in order to refuel.

Other airlines, including the Australian company, Qantas, had already announced that they were planning to stop flying to Harare because of a fall in passenger numbers.

Zimbabwe's tourism industry, which had been the fastest growing part of the economy, has slammed into reverse because of the economic and political crisis of the past six months.

Hotel bookings are down about 80% on last year.

The picture is unlikely to improve significantly until the International Monetary Fund resumes financial assistance to Zimbabwe.

Given President Mugabe's hostile rhetoric and his government's continuing refusal to enforce the rule of law, there is no sign of that happening in the near future.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_896000/896990.stm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), August 26, 2000


Moderation questions? read the FAQ