Zimbabwe reverses ban on unleaded fuel

Zim Now Writer

In a surprising U-turn, the Zimbabwean government has announced that it will no longer be banning the sale of unleaded petrol. This reversal comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa intervened in the matter, expressing concerns about the previous decision.

The ban on unleaded fuel was initially announced last month through Statutory Instrument 150 of 2024. Energy and Power Development Minister Edgar Moyo had defended the decision, stating that it was made in consultation with the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority.

However, Information Minister Jenfan Muswere has now clarified that the government never officially endorsed a ban on unleaded fuel. Speaking at the National University of Science and Technology’s 11th Annual International Conference on Communication and Information Science, Muswere emphasized that Zimbabwean policies are based on scientific evidence.

“When we had our discussions some few weeks ago, His Excellency directed that whatever discussions (that) revolved around unleaded fuel, the discussions had not been comprehensive enough and that it was not government position to ban unleaded fuel,” Muswere said.

The minister also addressed concerns about the blending of unleaded petrol with ethanol. While there were discussions on this topic, Muswere clarified that the government does not have a specific policy regarding blending ratios. He encouraged local research and development efforts to optimize blending ratios and reduce Zimbabwe's reliance on imported fuel.