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Prices go up as fuel shortage bites in Zanzibar
2005-10-08 07:42:09
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Fuel prices have shot up dramatically in Zanzibar after two days of an acute shortage.
Private cars and commuter buses queued for hours yesterday to buy gasoline at filling stations only to find that the price had gone up.
Signs that the prices would surge were evident on Wednesday and Thursday after an acute shortage was reported.
Petrol is now selling at 1,050/- per litre instead of the normal 1,000/-.
The price of diesel also rose from 960/- to 1,030/- per litre, while kerosene is 800/- instead of 760/- per litre.
Filling station attendants confirmed the sharp rise of prices, saying the government through its Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs was to blame for the sudden hike in gasoline cost.
This is the second time in less than two months the prices have shot up, precipitating fears that the domino effect of the sudden rise in gasoline cost could be felt in the form of an increase of prices of commodities during this holy month of Ramadhan.
Attempts to get a comment from the State Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Dr Mwinyihajji Makame Mwadini, yesterday were futile, as he could not be reached by phone.
The increase elicited immediate complains from wananchi who said the new prices would undermine strict observance of Ramadhan religious rites.
The fuel shortage that hit Zanzibar last month gave vent to speculation that it is was an artificial deficit by traders to hike fuel prices.
GAPCO and Zanzibar Petroleum companies control most of the fuel business in Zanzibar
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