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Africa Moyo, Harare Bureau
The fuel supply situation in the country is showing signs of improvement, with a number of service stations taking delivery of the precious liquid from last weekend.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa told journalists during a post-Cabinet media briefing that Energy and Power Development Minister Advocate Fortune Chasi indicated that the fuel situation was improving.
“Cabinet was briefed by the Minister of Energy and Power Development (Advocate Chasi) that the fuel supply situation in the country has started to register some modicum of stability although much ground is still to be covered in bringing the situation to normalcy,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
The announcement by Minister Chasi follows a significant improvement in fuel deliveries, beginning mid last week.
Petrol has largely been available in most parts of the country.
Most service stations from Harare to Victoria Falls had petrol but diesel remains in short supply as evidenced by long queues for the commodity.
Where diesel is available, fuel attendants continue to engage in underhand dealings such as selling to those who pay bribes, resulting in artificial shortages.
Minister Chasi has vowed to clamp down on illegal fuel dealings to ensure normalcy in the sector.
He has indicated that he will empower the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) to take full charge of the sector and tightly monitor activities to restore order in the sector.
Recent, case of hoarding in which a Chinhoyi service station allegedly sold 10 000 litres of fuel to an individual despite a long winding queue of other motorists was unearthed.
Other service stations demand kick-backs of $5 to allow motorist to jump queues while others want anything from $20 to fill vehicle tanks with fuel.
Minister Chasi also told Cabinet yesterday the several strategies he would implement to cushion farmers and other critical economic entities from the ongoing drought induced load shedding.
Last week, Zesa acting CEO Engineer Patrick Chivaura told delegates during the Zimbabwe Annual Mining Conference in Victoria Falls that farmers are getting electricity four days a week.
Zimbabwe is battling acute electricity shortages resulting in rolling load shedding that lasts up to 12 hours per day.
Government plans to engage Eskom of South Africa and Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) with a payment plan to offset the US$83 million owed for electricity imports.
The country’s power utility has not paid its arrears with the two utilities since October last year resulting in a drastic reduction in power imports from 450MW to 100MW.
Yesterday, Zimbabwe was generating 1 221MW from Hwange (500MW), Kariba 691MW, Harare (14MW) and Munyati (16MW).
National demand is pegged at 1 600MW.
The deficit has to met through imports or load shedding.
Online Reporter