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Uproar as fuel prices skyrocket in Zanzibar
2006-08-31 08:02:47
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Fuel prices have soared again in Zanzibar despite mounting complaints that the sharp rise is ’artificial’.A survey of the petrol stations yesterday found consumers forming long queues to buy petrol, diesel or kerosene.
Some buyers expressed shock on finding that petrol prices had shot up from 1,250/- to 1,350 per litre and diesel had risen from 1,200/- to 1310 per litre.
Kerosene prices have also risen from 900/- to 980/- a litre. The sudden rise in fuel prices had pushed up students’ fares as bus owners said they had been forced to do so, to cover their costs.
The high prices were blamed on an acute shortage of fuel on the Isles.
There were reports yesterday that some businessmen were hoarding fuel, which they sold for 2,000/- per litre on the black market.
Attempts by the police to force bus owners to lower prices resulted in a protracted row between the police and passengers on one hand, and commuter bus operators on the other.
The row was sparked off when police attempted to protect students against harassment by bus conductors.
Bus operators responded by demanding that police and army officers pay fares too.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs Khamis Mussa confirmed that fuel prices had skyrocketed but said he was not in a position to speculate on the cause.
In a telephone interview, the PS only said: ’’It is true that prices of diesel and petrol have gone up, but I’m not in a position to explain the cause.’’
Some commuters complained that a breach of contract between the government and main fuel dealer Ecotec had resulted in the soar in prices.
There are only two companies that import fuel on the Isles, namely Gapco and Zanzibar Petroleum.
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