Zim fuel hikes 'criminal'

2003-04-17 11:26

Harare - Fuel price hikes of more than 200% announced by the Zimbabwe government are "criminal" and could lead to the collapse of President Robert Mugabe's government, the opposition said on Wednesday.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) described the fuel price hikes announced on Tuesday as "astronomical, bizarre and shocking" and said they proved that the government was "clueless on how to address the economic ills" of the country.

The energy and power development minister announced the that the pump price of petrol was going up from $2.64 to US$8.18 a litre, with diesel, mainly used in public transport, shooting up from $2.17 to the equivalent of US$3.64 per litre.

Seven weeks ago, the government put the price of petrol up 95%.

"If ever any illustration of the failure of the Mugabe regime was required, then this is it," said MDC secretary-general Welshman Ncube.

"This sort of insensitive brazen behaviour by the state is an open invitation to the people of Zimbabwe to take the route of mass action," said Ncube.

"The fuel hike will simply serve to accelerate the collapse of the Mugabe regime," Ncube told a news conference.

Last month the MDC organised a two-day anti-government national strike which was widely followed and virtually ground the country to a halt.

The MDC has challenged the result of the 2002 presidential election, claiming that Mugabe fraudulently won the vote from MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

"Mugabe is learning the hard way that it was easier to steal an election than it is to live with that theft," said Ncube.

"The harsh reality of politically induced economic failure is becoming more and more pervasive," he said.

MDC shadow economic minister Tapiwa Mashakada said the increases in the price of fuel "resemble a blitz, suggesting that the Mugabe regime is panicking".

Ncube said the fuel price increases are criminal given the low incomes of the majority of Zimbabweans.

He cited, as an example, a member of parliament - relatively well paid by standards in the southern African country, but whose net monthly salary would only buy 120l of petrol.

"This is absolutely shocking," he said, adding that the ripple effect of the fuel prices would leave beleaguered Zimbabweans even worse off, as they would force prices of other commodities and services up.

The latest fuel price hikes came hours after the government published the latest inflation figure for Zimbabwe: a record 228% year on year to the end of March.

Consumers have also been hard hit by widespread shortages of virtually all basic commodities.

"The latest fuel hikes will mean more Zimbabweans will be forced to go without food and travel by foot, adding another level of suffrance to their daily grind," lamented Ncube.

Mashakada said the continuing fuel price increases showed that the government had "completely" failed and is actions conflicted with its recently announced ambitious economic recovery plan, under which it intends to bring down inflation to 96 percent by the end of the year.

"Government has reached a cul de sac in terms of economic management," he said.

- AFX