/ 30 September 2004

Zimbabwe fuel importers arrested

At least two Zimbabwean businessmen have been arrested while scores more face ”de-registration” after a police crackdown on bogus fuel imports.

Zimbabwe’s Energy Minister, July Moyo, has said that as many as 24 fuel importers could be closed down after failing to prove they imported either petrol or diesel into the country.

Under strict foreign currency laws, fuel importers must prove to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe that they did in fact use scarce foreign currency allocations to import fuel.

”We’ve given them a deadline and if they fail to give us the proof we need, we will de-register them and the police will take up the investigations,” said Moyo.

Zimbabwe has faced lengthy fuel shortages for four years during the country’s worst ever political and economic crisis. – Sapa