HARARE
–
Commuters
could
soon
face
higher
transport
fares
as
escalating
conflict
in
the
Middle
East
drives
up
global
crude
oil
prices.
The
Zimbabwe
Energy
Regulatory
Authority
(Zera)
announced
a
sharp
increase
in
fuel
prices
on
Wednesday,
with
ripple
effects
expected
across
public
transport,
freight
and
household
budgets.
Zera
raised
the
maximum
pump
price
of
petrol
(Blend
E5)
to
US$1.71
per
litre,
up
from
US$1.56,
while
diesel
climbed
to
US$1.77
per
litre
from
US$1.52.
The
increases
represent
a
9.6
percent
rise
for
petrol
and
a
steep
16.4
percent
jump
for
diesel.
Diesel
powers
most
public
transport
vehicles,
freight
trucks,
mining
equipment
and
agricultural
machinery,
making
its
price
especially
significant
for
inflation
and
commuter
fares.
Zera
said
government
intervention
prevented
even
steeper
increases.
“Without
government
cushioning,
the
actual
prices
would
have
been
US$1.90
per
litre
for
diesel
and
US$1.81
per
litre
for
blend,”
the
regulator
said.
To
limit
the
impact,
the
government
reduced
the
Strategic
Reserve
Levy
to
5.7
cents
per
litre
on
diesel
from
18.7
cents,
and
to
13.6
cents
on
petrol
from
24.7
cents.
The
levy
funds
Zimbabwe’s
strategic
fuel
reserves,
which
guard
against
global
supply
disruptions.
Acting
energy
minister
Zhemu
Soda
told
the
National
Assembly
on
Wednesday
that
Zimbabwe
holds
sufficient
fuel
stocks
to
meet
demand
for
the
next
three
months,
even
amid
growing
concerns
over
the
Middle
East
conflict.
A
preparedness
report
tabled
in
parliament
confirmed
reserves
remain
adequate.
Transport
operators
warn
the
diesel
hike
could
force
a
review
of
fares,
as
fuel
accounts
for
a
significant
share
of
operating
costs,
a
burden
that
will
ultimately
fall
on
commuters
and
households.
Because
Zimbabwe
imports
all
its
fuel,
pump
prices
are
largely
determined
by
international
oil
prices,
freight
costs
and
other
import-related
charges.
Economists
warn
that
fuel
price
increases
typically
ripple
through
the
broader
economy,
pushing
up
the
cost
of
goods
and
services.