Fuel situation improves in Masvingo
THE fuel supply situation has improved considerably here, with long queues slowly disappearing at service stations across the country’s oldest town.
Fuel attendants at ervice stations across the city confirmed a major improvement in supplies, saying they were now attending to fewer vehicles compared to the past few weeks as supplies improved after Government secured supplies.
Over the past few weeks, motorists were being forced to sleep in queues to get diesel or petrol that was in short supply, leading to the emergence of a thriving black market selling the commodity at exorbitant prices.
A survey by The Herald across the city yesterday showed the fuel supply situation had greatly improved.
A motorist, Ndumiso Mgutshini of Rujeko suburb, hailed Government for addressing the fuel situation, saying hopes were high that the situation will remain stable.
“I went to the service station today (Tuesday) and refilled my tank without queuing,” he said. “We hope the situation will remain like this.”
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) provincial chair Mr Jowere Mukusha said the fuel situation in Masvingo was encouraging and urged consumers to buy what they only need instead of hoarding.
“Fuel shortages had been caused by panic buying and opportunists who were hoarding the commodity and reselling it at a premium,” he said.
“While we appreciated shortages, some unscrupulous consumers exaggerated the situation through hoarding, as you would see the same car in a queue every day.
“The situation is now encouraging. As of yesterday, my survey revealed that more than 10 fuel service stations had fuel and there were no queues.”
Community Working Group on Health provincial chairperson Mrs Entrance Takaidza said it was refreshing that people were now spending more time on their business instead of fuel queues.
“We used to see many people in queues and that means some jobs were being sacrificed as motorists looked for fuel,” she said.
“Now the situation has changed and you hardly see more than three cars queuing and that is the ideal situation we want.”