The government has warned transport operators against taking advantage of the recent fuel price increase to double fares, saying those doing so are driven by greed and are ignoring the subsidy it has put in place.
The warning comes after transport fares shot up by between 100 and 150 per cent — from US$0.50 to about US$1.25 (or R20) and even higher — following the latest fuel price hike. The increases have left many commuters struggling with a sudden jump in their daily travel costs.
Director of Communications in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Gabriel Masvora, warned transport operators against imposing arbitrary fare increases. He said:
“We want to urge transport operators not to take advantage of the global fuel price increases to rip off commuters.
“They should be sensitive to the plight of the commuting public and not be driven by greed. A 100 per cent increase is not justified if it is not motivated by profiteering.
“The Government has been considerate and has announced a cushion to consumers by reducing levies on fuel, and we hope that same spirit cascades down to our business people.”
While long-distance bus fares on major highways have largely remained unchanged, kombi operators in urban areas were quick to push their prices up.
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) announced new fuel prices on Wednesday last week, with the changes taking effect from 4 March 2026.
Diesel is now selling at US$1.77 per litre, up from US$1.52, while petrol blend (E5) rose to US$1.71 per litre from US$1.56.
However, at some fuel stations, diesel is going for around US$1.80 per litre, while petrol is being sold for as much as US$1.87.
More: Sunday News
Pindula WhatsApp Channel
Facebook Page
Leave a Reply