THE Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) has warned
service stations not using their own offshore funds against charging fuel in
forex only.
Zera said it is illegal for service stations that buy fuel
using local currency to refuse to accept all forms of payment including mobile
money platforms from motorists. The energy regulator said it is now working
with law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance in the sector so that every
motorist has access to fuel.
The development comes amid concerns from motorists in the
country who are failing to fuel their vehicles as most service stations are
demanding payment in forex.
In response to written questions, Zera chief executive
officer Engineer Eddington Mazambani, said only operators who would have used
their own offshore funds to source fuel may sell the product in the currency of
their choice.
He said all operators are compelled to prove that they
indeed used their own foreign currency sources to buy fuel should they be
caught selling in foreign currency.
“It is illegal to refuse to accept all forms of payment (if
fuel was purchased using local currency) and Zera is working with law
enforcement agencies to ensure compliance in the sector. Only operators who
would have used their own offshore funds to source fuel from the traders may
sell the product in the currency of their choice,” said Eng Mazambani.
He said the country is saving about 20 percent on all fuel
imports through blending.
While not giving exact figures, he said the savings are in
the form of scarce foreign currency which would have been paid to fuel traders.
“The blending programme is indeed viable. Fuel blending is
a Government programme which is in synch with regional and global trends as
countries are shifting towards cleaner, renewable and environmental friendly
fuels,” he said.
National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (NOIC) chairperson,
Engineer Daniel Mackenzie Ncube said there must be a law that compels service
stations to implement dual pricing. He said dual pricing using the interbank
rate of the day should be considered for ordinary people without access to
foreign currency.
“We must see a pricing policy which enables motorists to
buy using swipe or any other form of payment using local currency at the
prevailing interbank exchange rate. We not saying service stations should run
at a loss, no, we want dual pricing because we all don’t have access to foreign
currency,” he said.
Eng Ncube said the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe must give a
directive on the issue of dual pricing.
“There should be a legal instrument to compel the service
stations to implement dual pricing for the benefit of all people who need
fuel,” he said. Chronicle
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