Zimbabwe’s state-owned power utility, ZESA Holdings needs $14 million monthly for electricity imports from the regional power market, its acting Chief Executive Patrick Chivaura said on Monday.

“If we clear our debts to (South African power firm), Eskom, and (Mozambique’s hydropower company),HCB, it would wipe out our (power cut) problems today, I repeat, today,” Chivaura said.

Chivaura said that the company was seeking a government exemption to charge mining companies in U.S. dollars to guarantee power supplies.

ZESA Holdings is currently implementing severe power cuts in a country, where year-on-year inflation is around 100 per cent