MUTARE The continuous increase of petrol prices in and around Mutare has forced prices of almost everything to skyrocket. In a survey carried by The Zimbabwean this week, a litre of petrol and diesel was selling at US$3. The black market fuel dealers have been selling a minimum of five litres for US$15.The few service stations that have fuel are charging as much as US$2 per litre instead of the stipulated US$1.03 a litre.
The fuel shortages have forced the public transporters to withdraw their services, while those still operating have doubled their fares.
About 15 service stations have closed shop following a government directive.
Bigboy Muchemwa, a transporter, said: The government made a very big mistake. They failed to realise that these small service stations managed to keep the country on its feet. Now that they have been closed the country is now dry. We do not want to get back to that situation again where petrol became gold.
Post published in: Manufacturing