Zimbabwe's fuel black market returns

Illegal fuel dealers have re-emerged on the streets of Bulawayo, selling smuggled petrol and diesel in defiance of government regulations mandating ethanol blending. The illicit traders claim their fuel, sourced from South Africa and Botswana, offers better mileage and performance than the legally sold blended product.

This resurgence comes months after the government reinforced rules requiring all petrol sold in Zimbabwe to be blended with ethanol. Energy and Power Development Minister Edgar Moyo announced in August that unblended fuel, marketed at some service stations as "unleaded," must comply with the mandated ethanol blending ratios set by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA).

Street Dealers Thrive on Demand

Investigations revealed that street fuel dealers operate openly in areas like Luveve, Mpopoma, Emakhandeni, and Nketa suburbs. They sell petrol at approximately US$6.50 per five litres and diesel at US$7.50, significantly undercutting official fuel station prices, which hover around US$1.53 and US$1.55 per litre, respectively.

At a makeshift station along Luveve Road, a black commuter omnibus serves as a mobile depot for 20-litre containers of smuggled fuel. Within 30 minutes of observation, five commuter omnibuses refueled at the site.

A kombi driver explained the popularity of the black market product:
"The fuel lasts longer, so that's why we buy from the street dealers. They've been back in business ever since the ban on unblended fuel was announced."

Government Crackdown and Misconceptions

Ethanol blending, compulsory since 2011, aims to reduce petroleum imports, lower carbon emissions, and support local sugarcane farmers. However, misconceptions persist among motorists, some of whom believe blended fuel harms engines. This has fueled demand for street-sold "unleaded" petrol, despite the government clarifying that no leaded petrol has been sold in Zimbabwe since 2006.

Minister Moyo addressed these concerns in Parliament, emphasizing that the mandatory blending policy ensures consistency and safety in fuel quality.

"We were now having people conniving and purporting to be selling unleaded fuel while they were busy blending on their own, jeopardizing the engines of motorists," Moyo said.

He reassured motorists that blended fuel is safe and aligns with global environmental standards.

Call for Action

The resurgence of black market fuel highlights enforcement challenges and public distrust of ethanol-blended fuel. Authorities are under pressure to crack down on illegal dealers while improving public awareness about the benefits of the mandated fuel blending policy.

Meanwhile, Bulawayo residents and transport operators continue to weigh cost and convenience against legality and quality as they navigate the city's fuel market.