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Zim-Libya fuel deal on
30/06/2003 22:54 - (SA)
Harare - Libya is expected to start supplying Zimbabwe with fuel soon under a deal cemented during President Robert Mugabe's recent visit to the north African country, state television reported on Monday.
Fuel in Zimbabwe is desperately scarce at the moment, with many motorists not having had supplies for weeks.
Zimbabwe's Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge was quoted by state television as saying at a press conference in Libya last week that a deal signed between the two countries in May had been "re-affirmed".
"We had already reached agreement in Harare on the 31st of May on the renewal of fuel to Zimbabwe. We here during the visit re-affirmed this agreement," Mudenge said.
A Libyan government official said the first shipment of oil would be sent to Zimbabwe "as soon as possible" but gave no specific date.
Libya had been supplying 70% of Zimbabwe's fuel needs in return for agricultural products such as tobacco, beef and sugar. But the supply line was cut last year when Zimbabwe failed to keep up its end of the trade deal.
Mugabe led a high-powered government delegation to Libya and Egypt last week, where he held discussions with Presidents Moamer Kadhafi and Hosni Mubarak. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA
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