The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) says all fuel service stations that buy fuel using Zimbabwe dollars are obliged to accept all forms of payment including mobile money from motorists.
However, the energy regulator said service stations that source fuel using their own offshore funds are allowed to charge fuel in foreign currency only. ZERA Chief Executive Officer Eddington Mazambani said:
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.
Mazambani said blending on all fuel imports was saving the country about 20 per cent scarce foreign currency which would have been paid to fuel traders.
He said fuel blending is a government programme which dovetails with regional and global trends as countries are shifting towards cleaner, renewable and environmentally friendly fuels.