With effect from this week, consumers in Zimbabwe will pay fuel prices that differ depending on location. The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Agency (ZERA) for the first time ever – is factoring the in the cost of trucking fuel into a particular location.
ZERA says the cost of fuel will be distributed according to zones.
For example, motorists in Victoria Falls will pay the most at $10.56 per litre of petrol and $10.86 for diesel while in Masvingo, a litre of petrol now costs $10.21 and diesel $10.51 per litre.
Drivers in Harare will see an 89 cent increase to $10.01 per litre, while diesel is 96 cents up to $10,32 per litre.
“The petroleum prices applicable in the various cities represent the maximum pump prices taking into account the transport costs,” ZERA said in a statement.
The fuel situation in the country has improved over the past few weeks as the local currency prices move towards parity with the United States dollar price.
Previous misalignment in the fuel prices – due to unjustified subsidies – had resulted in instances of significant arbitrage as the country was not receiving all the fuel that it had paid for, with a significant quantity being smuggled out of the country.