RESERVE Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Mangudya
has assured the nation that there is no fuel crisis, as the central bank
allocated enough foreign currency to suppliers.
Dr Mangudya, who is in China on State business, told
Chronicle in an interview that queues that characterised filling stations in
most parts of the country yesterday could have been a result of logistical
challenges.
“There cannot be a crisis because we allocated enough fuel
for the week,” he said. “Since I am not around, I can only assume that
suppliers may have had logistical challenges collecting fuel from Msasa Depot
(in Harare) for them to distribute countrywide.”
Dr Mangudya promised to check on the situation. He said RBZ
allocates $20 million foreign currency for fuel per week on Mondays or
Tuesdays.
Government doubled foreign currency allocation to fuel
suppliers from $10 million to $20 million per week in May this year, to ensure
constant supplies.
However, yesterday morning motorists in some parts of the
country woke up to long winding queues at fuel garages, while some outlets had
no supplies at all.
A survey by our Bulawayo Bureau showed that only diesel was
available at some outlets, while unscrupulous black market dealers had hiked
prices, taking advantage of shortages at the pump.
In Binga, diesel was delivered to some garages on Sunday,
while fuel attendants said they were expecting petrol on Thursday.
In Victoria Falls, motorists were caught unawares and
queued at CMED garage in the morning as other outlets were yet to receive
supplies.
Total garage was only selling to those with their pre-paid
cards and cash, resulting in motorists flocking to the CMED garage.
At Petrotrade, motorists were being told to check by end of
day yesterday.
Parallel market dealers who sell fuel in containers at
street corners were selling 5-litres for as high as $10, about $3 more than the
pump price.
“I’m left with less than a quarter tank of fuel and I can’t
continue carrying clients,” said a taxi driver Mr Oliver Mungezi in Victoria
Falls.
“I will have to join the queue until I get some fuel
because I might get stuck with clients. What it means is that we have lost business
this morning.”
In Hwange, some of the garages were also without fuel,
while in Bulawayo long queues were also witnessed in the morning. Herald
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