SOME fuel stations are deliberately hoarding and limiting
supplies to consumers for speculative purposes thereby creating artificial
shortages that have resulted in continued long queues for petrol and diesel.
Yesterday, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera)
said limiting supplies to consumers was illegal and culprits will be prosecuted
and their licences revoked.
Zera’s statement buttresses Government’s position that
there is enough fuel in the country despite long queues at fuel stations in the
past two weeks.
“It has come to the attention of the Zimbabwe Energy
Regulatory Authority that some petroleum licensees are deliberately hoarding or
limiting fuel supplies to consumers for speculative purposes.
Isolated cases of service stations charging fuel prices
that are above regulated threshold have also come to Zera’s attention,” reads
the statement.
“Such actions are in violation of the Petroleum (Fuel
Pricing) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (No.1) published in the Statutory
Instrument 20 of 2015 which prohibits the withholding of petroleum products for
speculative purposes and charging fuel prices that are beyond the prescribed
limits.”
The regulatory authority warned that those breaking the law
risk being prosecuted and having their licences revoked. Zera said its compliance officers have been deployed to the
ground to monitor the situation.
“Members of the public are advised to report all fuel
retailers who are suspected of deliberately withholding or limiting fuel
supplies for speculative purposes.
“The public is also advised to report retailers who are
charging fuel prices that are above the approved threshold to Zera,” reads the
statement.
It said members of the public can report unscrupulous fuel
service stations on landline numbers +263 242 780 010; +263 242 253416 or on
0800136 which is used as both a toll free and WhatsApp number.
People can also report at Zera’s offices situated at 24
Samora Machel Avenue, 14th Floor, Century Towers in Harare or send an email on
@[email protected] or make a report through its website www.zera.co.zw.
Zera also warned the public against hoarding fuel saying
this could result in destructive and fatal fires.
“The use of containers increases chances of fuel
contamination which compromises fuel quality and results in damage to motor
engines,” Zera said.
Meanwhile, in Tsholotsho, two service stations are
allegedly demanding United States dollars and South African rands from
motorists, claiming to be importing fuel from the neighbouring Botswana.
Tsholotsho Business Against Crime Forum of Zimbabwe
(BACFOZ) chairperson, Mr Ernest Maliwa said the only fuel station that has not
been demanding forex had run out of the commodity leaving them at the mercy of
unscrupulous dealers.
He said motorists have been left to resort to two fuel
stations located at Tsholotsho Business Centre, Phumelela Service Station and
Majokotshoko Service Station that are demanding forex payments.
The proprietors of the two service stations could not be
reached immediately.
However, Mr Maliwa said: “One of them is charging R17,50 or
US$ 1,25 per litre for both petrol and diesel. This one has totally refused to
accept any other form of payment for his fuel even after our team approached
him. The other one is charging R14 or US$ 1.10 per litre of petrol and R13 or
$1.02 per litre of diesel. After approaching this one, he now charges $2 per
litre, both petrol and diesel with customers limited to only $10 bond purchase
and nothing more.”
He said motorists are forced to look for bond notes and
trade them for rands on the black market.
Tsholotsho Rural District Council chairperson, Ward 9
councillor, Esau Siwela said residents were also failing to buy basic
commodities as shops were also demanding forex. Herald
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