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Fuel shortage bites in Isles
2005-09-03 07:48:19
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Fuel prices in Zanzibar have doubled over the last three days amid reports of dwindling stocks in the Isles.
A survey carried out by this reporter in Zanzibar Municipality this week showed that a litre of petrol was now retailing for about 2,000/-, up from about 1,000/- a few weeks ago.
Several filling stations in the municipality have been closed for a number of days after failing to replenish their stocks of petrol, diesel and kerosene.
Most of the government workers provided with collective transport now walk to and from work after their buses were grounded for lack of fuel.
A sizeable number of people owning cars have stopped using them in favour of public transport after the price of fuel went through the roof.
The shortage of fuel has given rise to a thriving black market in which petrol and diesel are sold at sky-high prices.
Some daladala operators said they would be forced to raise fares if the price of fuel did not drop in the next few days.
’If the price doesn’t drop soon, we will be forced to increase fares if these vehicles are to remain on the road.That is the only way we can stay in business and continue serving Zanzibar residents,’ said Bakari Kombo, who plies the town centre-Bububu route.
Zanzibar’s Minister of Water, Works and Energy, Mansour Yusuf Himid, confirmed that there was an acute shortage of petroleum products in the Isles and appealed for calm, saying the government was working to find a solution.
He said his ministry was consulting with players in the sector with a view to establishing the cause of the shortage.
’The government is aware of the problem and is making a follow-up,’ Himid said.
Unconfirmed reports said a delay in the importation of petroleum products was the cause of the shortage.
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