Zimbabwe, which has battled severe fuel shortages over the past seven years, has begun receiving fuel supplies from the central African country of Equatorial Guinea. President Robert Mugabe, who was on a three-day state visit to Namibia, said Equatorial Guinea had already sent some fuel at favourable terms to Zimbabwe. “They are providing us with crude oil at favourable terms. We only have to pay after every three months,” said Mugabe. Equatorial Guinea is the third biggest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa. Zimbabwe has battled to raise about US$120 million that is needed every month for fuel supplies with most garages around the country going for months on end without receiving any supplies.
Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea enjoy warm relations particularly after Harare helped thwart a military coup organized by South African and British mercenaries against the central African countryÂ’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo about two years ago.