GOVERNMENT will withdraw licences for fuel service stations
found promoting acts of hoarding and overcharging of petroleum products thereby
creating artificial shortages, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Energy and Power Development Minister, Dr Joram Gumbo, said
in an interview at the weekend that Government has noted with concern uncouth
practices in the supply of fuel by some unscrupulous service stations and
individuals, who continue to accelerate perceived shortages countrywide.
He said in an effort to curb hoarding his ministry would
forthwith issue a directive to service stations to stop serving individuals
using any form of containers.
“Those using tanks, drums and jerry cans all, those forms
of containers should stop and we are sending out inspectors and the Zimbabwe
Republic Police and if anybody is going to be found maybe overcharging or using
drums might have their licences withdrawn. We are not going to allow that,”
said Dr Gumbo.
He also said Government would not hesitate to crack the
whip on errant oil companies that are demanding motorists to pay for fuel in
foreign currency.
“We also had to warn some of the companies that we heard
were demanding forex for fuel because it’s not their responsibility because the
forex that we use to buy fuel from Msasa or Mabvuku or international companies
is sourced by Government. So, there is no point in an individual company
demanding payment for fuel in foreign currency and some of them were saying
they were only serving their clients with coupons from their companies that
should not happen,” said Dr Gumbo.
He said the Ministry held talks with the Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe to consider increasing its foreign currency allocation for the
purchase of fuel by oil companies.
“There are enough stocks of fuel, we have not run out.
There is sufficient fuel in the country but for us to access that fuel we need
forex and the demand for fuel caught everyone by surprise. So, what we have
been doing for now is negotiate with RBZ that they can increase the fuel
allocation they give to companies . . . my (ministry) officials and officials
from RBZ met . . . and the indication is that RBZ has agreed and are going to
consider increasing the allocation, which they give to oil companies,” said Dr
Gumbo.
He also said in the meeting he held with oil companies it
was suggested that RBZ should consider raising foreign currency allocation to
around $30 to $35 million per week up from the $20 million it was previously
allocating.
To ensure improved deliveries the Environmental Management
Agency has given oil companies a reprieve to move fuel during the night. Energy
and Power Development permanent secretary Engineer Gloria Magombo reiterated
that the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) has intensified monitoring
of fuel service stations in a bid to ensure efficient supplies to motorists.
“Zera is also monitoring compliance in the market and
general distribution,” she said.
Eng Magombo however, said the public should refrain from
panic buying as it was causing artificial shortages. She also urged motorists
to desist from buying fuel from the black market as doing so might be hazardous
to their vehicles. Chronicle
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