Fuel shortages continue in Lusaka, spreads to Kitwe

By CATHERINE NYIRENDA and MILDRED KATONGO –
THE shortage of fuel in Lusaka has persisted with only a few filling stations in the capital city having the commodity.
The shortage has also spread to Kitwe with a number of filling having no fuel.
In Lusaka, by yesterday, some filling stations had started receiving the commodity but long queues of motorists trying to buy the commodity were still evident.
Some filing stations were rationing fuel with motorists only allowed to purchase petrol at a pegged price in a bid to serve as many clients as possible.
Petroda Filling station along Leopards Hill road on Wednesday night was restricting motorists to buying petrol worth K200, while Puma Filing Station in Woodlands pegged its maximum price at K100.

This prompted motorist especially bus drivers to resort to buying the commodity using metal containers in order to purchase more than the limited price cap.
FuelSome motorists interviewed complained that petrol had run out at most filing stations while they were still on the long queues, with some waiting for over two hours only to be told by the fuel attendants that the commodity had run out.
Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma on Wednesday told Parliament that the current shortage of fuel was as a result of panic-buying motorist based on rumours that the commodity would be in short supply.
The minister met with Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) and agreed that they should flood the market to normalise the situation.
In Kitwe, a check by Times yesterday around town centre revealed that there was panic-buying from the few filling stations that were selling fuel.
A fuel attendant at Puma Filling Station along President Avenue said the fuel stocks dried up two days ago.

Times