via Bulawayo24 NEWS | Nine companies prosecuted for selling contaminated fuel 21 December 2014
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) says nine fuel companies have been prosecuted this year for selling contaminated fuel with plans already underway to revoke licences for repeat offenders.
With fuel prices remaining high despsite the tumbling of the commodity price on the international market, local fuel dealers are reportedly fleecing unsuspecting consumers as they sell contaminated fuel for maximum profit.
This year nine fuel companies were prosecuted for fraud, as they mixed diesel with paraffin, a development which has prompted the regulatory authority to be on the lookout monitoring the fuel quality on the market.
ZERA Chief Executive Officer Engineer Gloria Magombo said among the nine companies that were found on the wrong side of the law, five were repeat offenders while three companies were selling contaminated fuel.
The number of registered fuel companies has been increasing from 299 firms in 2012, to 384 in 2013 and this year there were 549 companies and due to stiff competition some have adopted unorthodox means of profiteering at the expense of motorists.
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