By Brenda Musemwa, ZiMining Reporter
Motorists woke up to new fuel prices that shocked them as the Reserve Bank liberalised the the us of the US dollar.Ever since the US Dollar made its way onto the official market recently,the exchange rate has been interesting and Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has effected price increase for fuel.ZERA has gazetted an increase of between 22-38% in US$ of thefuel price,after the first forex auction established official exchange rate at USD1: Z$57.35.Diesel now costs Z$62.77(US$1.09) per litre while petrolretail for a maximum of Z$71.62(US$1.28).Is ZERA hiding behindthe shroudof a Central Bank?In a voxi populi conducted by ZiMining over fuel price increases, Motorists said there is need for clarity to the logic behind the cost of raw petrolat US$0.3776 against the US$1.10 because they do notunderstand thereason behind blending it as they claim it is less efficientcompared tothe raw petrol.
Moreover, some said ethanol is produced locally, hence it cannot be the mostexpensive element in the pricing.
“The pricing of ethanol, which was included in the first place to reduce fuel prices, is curious.
“We are paying USD 0,30 for less than 200ml. Logically we should be between USD 0.06 and USD 0.10. This is a ripoff.
“Petrol comes in at around US$0.3776 + 0.30 duty; From this pricing they has been added a staggering US$1.10? If the ethanol causes such a pricing hike, why not just sell petrol at 80c and leave sugar cane for sugar?” Queried Norton Legislator, Temba Mliswa on Twitter.
Motorist alleged that price changes never protect the masses but rather the big wigswho aresupposed to benefit from the arbitrage. “It’s a big blow to usordinarycitizens because in my case I came here yesterday morningaround 5 and thetanker arrived around 11.Ever since they were claiming to becleaningtheir system probably waiting to increase their prices. Instead ofpurchasing 20litres I’m now going to getting nearly half of what Iwantedto get, besides the fact that I’m getting a lesser quantity now I’mnot able to travel long distances as the fuel is no longer efficient because ofthe blend with ethanol. The situation at hand is very disturbingbecause fuel is not only the basic commodity that we need right now butsimplybecause I can’t move from point A to point B at the end of the dayI’m a father, I’m not able to feed my family because of suchinconveniences. Even though they have raised he fuel prices let it be available on thepumpsatleast ,” said one of the motorist at Westgate Total fuel station.“There is not much of a difference between people with cards topurchasefuel and those who are buying using cash because thosepurchasing in cashit’s in liquid form and for us with Total cards we are using it invalueform only that it’s lessening the amount of fuel we are getting. Theonlyadvantage that we have is that the queues will be shorter,”saidTakundaDube.A Harare fuel vendor who chose anonymityclaimed thatthe fuel prices have chocked them out of business for them as they survivedwithreselling the fuel at cheaper prices.”There is no production at all in any sector to generate meaningfulforexand here we are again as Zimbabweans being made poorer asbasic commoditiesare competing with salaries,” he said.
