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A quick snapshot survey conducted by Hurumende News Hub has revealed that many fuel service stations across Zimbabwe are openly defying the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) by selling petrol and diesel above the officially pegged price of US$2.23 per litre.
The survey findings confirm reports from price monitoring platform Zimpricecheck that the non-compliance, which initially started at stations in remote and outlying areas, has now spread to service stations in major urban centres, including central business districts (CBDs).
Photos and on-ground checks shared by the platform show clear examples, such as an Engen service station displaying pump prices higher than the ZERA-regulated rate.
Motorists have expressed growing frustration with the continued price discrepancies, despite repeated announcements by the regulator.
It remains unclear whether the stations have any special dispensation or arrangement allowing them to charge more.In response to the high prices, ZERA has indicated plans to reduce the cost of petrol in the coming weeks by increasing the ethanol blending ratio to 20% (E20).
ZERA is yet to issue an official statement addressing the findings of the Hurumende News Hub survey and the latest reports of stations selling above the regulated price.
This development adds to the mounting pressure on the fuel sector, as ordinary Zimbabweans continue to grapple with high living costs and fluctuating fuel prices.
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