The recent increase in excise duty on diesel and petrol by 20% and 25% respectively has been criticised by members of the public who described it as an extra burden.
The increase is effective March 9. Motorists and ordinary people that spoke to NewsDay described the move as unfair saying it would pile pressure on the already burdened consumer.
On average a litre of fuel currently costs between $1,53 and $1,59. A pensioner Norman Van Niekerk said the increase was unjustified as people were already facing difficulties.
“Poor people will not be able to fuel for their vehicles. How are the people going to afford. Ninety percent of the people are not working,”he said.
Vitalis Chombo, a taxi driver said the increase would affect his business as it would most likely eat into profits. He said government should instead reduce the fuel prices.
A Commuter omnibus operator plying the Kamfinsa route Ali Charimari said the cost of doing business in the transport sector was too high considering that police and council officials demanded cash from the transporters every day.
“All the money we work for is taken by the police and council. This means our families in the end will suffer,” he said.
“The commuters will also not be able to pay the $1 that we will be demanding for a single trip.” Emiosn Chidhenge a transporter plying the Hwedza route said the increase will affect the business as people will not be able to pay $7 for the route that used to be $6.
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The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe monthly basket for February show that the cost of living for an urban family of six rose to $570 from driven the persistent rise in the price of fuel.
“As anticipated, the price of other basic goods increased because of the increase in fuel prices. Diesel increased from $1,32 to $1,40 per litre and petrol from $1,47 to $1,55 per litre,” CCZ said.
Below is a podcast of some of the people TheNewsDay interviewed:
