ZERA goes after non-compliant service stations
STAFF WRITER
The operation follows complaints from consumers that some fuel retailers have failed to implement the latest fuel price reductions announced by the regulator after a decline in international oil prices.
ZERA Chief Executive Officer, Eddington Mazambani, said inspectors have been deployed across the country to monitor compliance and take action against offenders.
“We are going to enforce compliance to fuel pricing and, at the same time, prosecute those charging fuel above the standard pricing,” Mazambani said.
He warned that fuel stations found violating the approved pricing structure would face prosecution as authorities intensify efforts to protect consumers from unfair charges.
Mazambani said the benefits of lower fuel prices should extend beyond the forecourts, with businesses expected to reduce the prices of goods and services heavily influenced by transport costs.
“We expect that the prices of commodities and other goods and services should also be reduced. We know that prices are often slow to come down, but working together with other government agencies, we should be able to enforce reductions in line with the decline in fuel prices,” he said.
Fuel costs are a major component in the pricing of goods and services across the economy, making the latest price review a potential relief for consumers battling high living costs.
The crackdown comes after ZERA last week adjusted fuel prices downward in response to falling global oil prices, with authorities now seeking to ensure that both fuel retailers and businesses pass on the savings to consumers.
