PRICES of fuel in Zimbabwe shot up on Tuesday by between 51% and 82%, state television reported. Petrol went up by 74% to $1.38 while diesel rose over 67% to $1.20, with aviation fuel seeing the biggest rise, up over 82% to $1.03. The state-owned National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (NOZCIM) blamed the increases on the rise of international market prices, the instability of Zimbabwe’s exchange rate and the increase of operational costs such as freight charges. Zimbabwe, which imports all its petroleum products, is facing an acute shortage of foreign exchange and has experienced a fuel shortage since December 1999. Zimbabwe last hiked the prices of fuel in November last year. – AFP
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