"We Caught 2 140 Errant Fuel Dealers," ZERA

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) acting chief executive officer, Eddington Mazambani, has revealed that the authority caught 2140 2 000 illegal fuel dealers countrywide in the last seven months. ZERA said that the raid on illegal fuel dealers was part of an ongoing operation to bring sanity in the energy sector.

The operation comes as the country is having acute fuel shortages attributed to foreign currency shortages and illicit fuel deals. Speaking to the Herald, Mazambani said:

We have completed most of our investigations, with some few cases on conclusion stage. We caught 2 140 errant fuel dealers’ illegally trading fuel or selling fuel in US dollars without licences to do so.

Most of these cases are expected to be taken to court by month end or early next month and all those found guilty will bear the consequences and will be banned for five years.

He added that ZERA has revoked and or withdrawn licences, in that order, of two fuel operators in Bulawayo and another one in Mutare, and service stations belonging to Glow Petroleum and other service stations accused of overcharging fuel.

Energy and Power Development Minister, advocate Fortune Chasi, recently announced that the government has begun the process of bringing down illegal dealings in the fuel sector.

More: The Herald