My Ministry and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development have developed a Fuel Marking Programme, which is designed to curtail fuel smuggling and adulteration. Under the programme, all legitimately procured fuel will be marked before it is sold to the end users. Once the programme is launched in 2017, ZERA will monitor fuel at all retail sites and points of consumption for marking and will prosecute fuel found unmarked or with diluted marker which will be evidence of smuggling or adulteration. Operators caught will be referred to ZIMRA for assessment and payment of relevant duties and attendant penalties.
The Fuel Marking Regulations have been drafted and the Fuel Marking Tender has been approved by the State Procurement Board. It is planned that a fuel marking contractor will be appointed in the second quarter of 2017.
The Ministry of Energy and Power Development, through ZERA has been conducting nationwide training workshops for players and operators in the petroleum industry. The training is based on petroleum industry operation and infrastructural standards of quality, safety and the environment. Where education and awareness fails to yield compliance, the Authority moves in to prosecute and shut down offending operators’ premises to protect consumers. ZERA works and depends on the activities of other enforcement agencies including local authorities, EMA and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
It is necessary to note that the fight against illegal fuel vending requires various Government arms working as a team. It is therefore necessary to point out that ZRP, EMA and Local Authority and ZIMRA are all involved in fighting that menace as it involves management of borders and local authority by-laws on vending. ZERA and other State Agencies will continue to work together to ensure minimization of these illegal activities. Mr. President, I wish to thank Hon. Sen. Mawire for raising this important question. Thank you very much.
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