Published by the government of Zimbabwe
10 July 2009
Harare — LOCAL Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo has directed local authorities to stop shutting down indigenous service stations at a time when the country does not have enough fuel.
He was responding to reports that a number of councils were closing down filling stations owned by indigenous operators on the grounds that they were not properly licensed.
In Mutare, 10 service stations owned by indigenous operators were shut down last week, leading to an outcry from commuter omnibus operators who complained they had been forced to park their buses because there was no fuel.
Similar shutdowns were in other towns and cities, apparently prompting Minister Chombo to act. "We are saying the indigenous operators should be allowed to operate while they sort out their documents," he said. "The councils should not be overly difficult on indigenous operators when we do not have fuel," he said.
Minister Chombo said he had directed local authorities to speed up the processing of licences and other required certifications to allow the operators to dispense fuel. He said most indigenous operators had valid fuel import licences and had the capacity to bring it into the country.
Owing to the fuel shortages and the increase in fuel prices, long-distance commuter operators from Harare have doubled their fares, with a trip to Mutare now costing US$10, Chivhu US$4 and Gweru US$10. Manicaland Affirmative Action Group chairman Mr Isau Mupfumi yesterday said some multinational companies in the fuel business were influencing the local authorities to shut down their fuel stations.
"They want to cause chaos in this country. We are saying the indigenous operators should not be stopped from operating. They are the ones who helped to bust the illegal sanctions. How come they are bad today?" he said.
Last week, The Manica Post reported the closure of 10 fuel stations in Mutare alone, with Mr Mupfumi maintaining that the situation in Zimbabwe demanded the participation of the small indigenous importers. "Things are not yet right and these small companies should be allowed to bring in fuel. "We cannot treat these companies harshly when they have helped to keep the country going.
"We should give companies time to regularise their operations," he said.
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