adminA survey by Chronicle yesterday showed that Shell, Avis, Marange and CMED service stations had all run out of fuel.
Motorists were seen milling around the stations anticipating new fuel deliveries. This is the second time that the resort town has run out of fuel since 24 December.
“The service stations should have anticipated a huge turnout of tourists coming in for the festive season. They should have ordered or requested more fuel. We are now being forced to buy fuel from dealers in the townships who are charging black market prices,” said Mr Mark Nicholson, a tourist from Namibia.
On the black market, five litres of petrol is now being sold for $15 instead of $6,65 while an equivalent amount of diesel is going for $13 instead of $6,55.
“Besides being expensive, this fuel is dirty and can damage our engines,” said another tourist on condition of anonymity.
However, operators said they had enough stocks for tours and transfers during the course of the festive holiday with more fuel expected to be used from today when mostly regional tourists arrive for the Falls Fest — a trump card — for New Year celebrations.
At the Victoria Falls rainforest, winding queues are now the order of the day as National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers seem to fail to cope with the ever-increasing numbers of people wanting to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Besides the fact that NPWMA recently introduced electronic ticketing system, the queues are still long.
Meanwhile, the South African electro hop music duo of twin brothers Andrew and Brian Chaplin known as Locnville, the main act at the Falls Fest, are expected to arrive in the country today.
According to one of the event co-ordinators, Mr Martin Vaughan, all is set for the two days of music, food, drink and dance. Other than award winning Locnville, there are also internationally recognised acts such as Evicted, Clint & Co., The First Descent, CrashCarBurn and Ghapi.
Tour and adventure companies take the opportunity to sell their products thereby making the event a must not miss event on the calendar of Victoria Falls and the tourism sector at large.
Last year saw over 4 000 people attending each of the two days of the festival.
Online Reporter