Mount Meru Petroleum Zimbabwe, the entity operating Meru service stations, is facing criticism from drivers following an incident where one of the petrol storage tanks at its Mbare service station in Harare was discovered to be contaminated with water.
Vehicles fueled from the pump connected to this tank experienced engine knock and other issues.
On Wednesday night, drivers protested at the fuel station seeking explanations after purchasing petrol. Many expressed frustration and anger towards the station owners, some directing harsh words at the staff. A number of drivers had their vehicles drained of the tainted petrol and refueled with clean fuel.
In interviews, motorists called for the revocation of the operator’s license, accusing the service station of causing damage to their vehicles. They have sought the intervention of the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) to conduct tests on fuel at all Meru stations to verify its quality.
Tashinga Musonza recounted how his vehicle abruptly stopped while driving, realizing later that he had filled up with contaminated petrol from Meru. He expressed disappointment in the service station, stating that such actions tarnish its reputation and could lead customers to believe their vehicles are at fault.
Doreen Muyambo demanded compensation from Meru for damages to her vehicle and vowed to avoid their service stations in the future. Other drivers echoed similar sentiments, insisting on compensation from the station officials.
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Dhairya Solanki, a director at Meru, disclosed that they had refunded affected motorists and closed the pump containing the contaminated fuel pending investigations into the cause of the contamination. He assured that steps were being taken to rectify the situation.
Moreblessing Cherayi, Meru’s public relations officer, acknowledged the contamination issue and stated that they were working to resolve it. He explained that a technical fault led to water contamination in one of their petrol tanks and assured that they were draining the tank and would resume normal operations after ZERA’s approval.
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