By Tendai Matunhu
Zimbabwe Energy and Regulatory Authority (ZERA), has started pouncing on service stations that are refusing other forms of payments save for cash only. A Cabinet Minister has said.
Minister of Energy and Power Development, Fortune Chasi, posted a tweet on his Twitter handle that ZERA had shut down service stations in Chiweshe and Nzvimbo.
“ZERA shuts down Ruyamuro Service Station in Glendale and at Nzvimbo Growth point in Chiweshe. Reason: refusing other payment methods except cash. Other service stations awaiting due process.
“Engen service station corner Harare Street and Robert Mugabe was refusing other payment modes. It was reported to the Oil Company which has summoned the dealer and revocation of dealership is now in progress,” said Minister Chasi.
Minister Chasi also appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development in May this year, where he gave a stern warning to service stations that Government would act if the service stations were found misbehaving.
“When people begin to misbehave, as we understand from the public because I have been inundated by many complaints from the public, we act. There has also been instances where service stations refuse certain types of payments, insisting on US dollars.
“This has occasioned untold suffering on the driving public and as Government we are there to protect the national interests. We are there to make sure that fuel is distributed rationally throughout the country,” he said.
During a Cabinet media briefing in June, it was revealed that the fuel supply situation in the country had started to register some improvement. Minister Chasi vowed to clamp-down on illegal fuel dealings to ensure normalcy in the sector. He also highlighted that he would empower ZERA to take full charge of the sector and tightly monitor activities to restore order. This comes after Government has given stern warnings against refusing other forms of payment.
Minister Chasi also advised those owing ZESA to pay up or arrange credible payment structures with them without delay, as ZESA will soon be going after defaulters.
