help with networking plugins please

Hi all
This is a Little complecated to explain, I am attempting to separate an old site that has got too big for ist own shoes, therefor I opted out for Network of sites in the subfolder Variation to enable me to have differnt themes for different parts of the site which all corelate with one another. All is going well except the plugin department.

I install plugins in the admin mode and Network activate them, but they dont Show up in the plugin list of the differnt themes, if i leave them deactivated in the admin mode, then they Show up in differnt themes and i am able to activate them in the themes.

currently I am trying to Import Content from the old site with the help od WP Import plugin. it doesnt matter which one of these two Setting I go for, when i attempt the Import i get the famouse “Cheatin Huh?”
Any one can help? im Close to pulling my hair out
thanks