News / National
Minister Gumbo in 'black market' fuel price scam
31 Oct 2016 at 06:59hrs | Views
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Jorum Gumbo has been accused by people from his constituency of profiteering from selling petrol and diesel at one of his outlets in Mberengwa at prices way above the market rates.
Gumbo who owns MCD Enterprises complex which consists of a furniture shop, hardware shop, cocktail bar, spare parts shop, Grocery shop, Butchery and a booking house at Mpesi Business Centre in Mberengwa is selling petrol and diesel at $1.79 petrol and $1.40 diesel per litre respectively.
The market prices are $1.27 for petrol and $1.15 for diesel.
Gumbo confirmed the story and said that the fuel was for his personal fleet of cars but there are motorists who sometimes get stranded and would want assistance.
He said it was those that he sold fuel to at those prices. He said the fuel was not bought at wholesale prices and he therefore needed to recover his costs.
"This is way more expensive. As a Minister whom we voted into office, he should consider his people. The roads are bad and it seems our Minister of Transport is not so much moved by that," said a man who preferred not to be named.
Gumbo said he did not expect to be interrogated over his fuel.
"Those are my personal tanks that l took from my farm in Mvuma because l had realised that fuel is a problem in the community. Well l was not doing it for the community but for my business that includes two buses, cars, as well as my haulage truck that is used to carry maize for people. I buy fuel with my personal money from service stations in Zvishavane and l use it for my fleet of vehicles.
"In as much as this fuel is for my business I also sell it to those who are stranded. If you also come stranded my people will sell it to you at that amount of $1.79 or $1.40 depending on which one you want," he said.
Source - Masvingo Mirror
