MPs want more punitive measures to protect Feruka oil pipeline

Legislators have endorsed the proposed Pipelines Amendment Bill, which seeks to introduce tougher penalties for vandalism and illegal activities threatening the Beira-Feruka-Msasa fuel pipeline and other oil pipelines in Zimbabwe.

Presenting the Bill for its second reading in Parliament, Energy and Power Development Deputy Minister Yeukai Simbanegavi said the Government was tightening the law to address rising cases of vandalism, illegal construction and encroachments along the pipeline reserve. She warned that such activities were endangering lives, compromising the integrity of vital national infrastructure and imposing huge financial burdens on the State.

"The Beira–Feruka–Masasa pipeline has increasingly come under threat," she said. "We recently recorded damage caused by excavation equipment during land preparation between Nyazura and Mt Tikwiri. Such incidents endanger lives, compromise the integrity of the network and impose huge financial costs on the State."

Under the current Pipelines Act [Chapter 13:08], offences such as illegal digging or construction within the 25-metre pipeline reserve attract minimal fines, sometimes as low as US$100 or three months' imprisonment. Lawmakers across the political divide agreed that these penalties were too lenient to deter offenders.

The proposed amendments significantly increase the penalties. Offenders convicted of illegal digging or construction along the pipeline corridor could face fines of up to Level 10 or imprisonment for up to six years. Those found guilty of causing damage to the pipeline or its accessories would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in jail, with no option of a fine. The restricted distance from the pipeline centre will also be expanded from 25 metres to 125 metres on either side, with new prohibitions covering activities such as mining and blasting.

Deputy Minister Simbanegavi said the amendments were vital to preserving national fuel security and reducing costly repairs that divert funds from key development priorities. "Every dollar lost to vandalism is a dollar taken away from efforts to expand energy access, improve fuel distribution and lower costs to citizens," she told Parliament.

Clause 4 of the Bill empowers the National Oil Infrastructure Company (NOIC), the designated pipeline authority, to inspect and maintain the pipeline reserve, including areas within private farms. NOIC officers will be authorised to seize equipment used for illegal activities and stop unauthorised works.

The Bill also introduces a new regulation-making section that allows the Minister to define permissible agricultural and pastoral activities within the pipeline corridor. Simbanegavi said this would ensure a careful balance between protecting national energy infrastructure and supporting the livelihoods of farmers living near the pipeline.

If enacted, the amendments will strengthen legal protections for the Feruka pipeline — Zimbabwe's main conduit for imported petroleum products — and reinforce the country's broader energy security framework.