Zimbabwe Informational Site

Backyard filling stations have sprouted in Bulawayo and are being supplied cheaper fuel by enterprising locals that are smuggling the fuel from Botswana. Bulawayo, the country’s second largest city is just 100km from Plumtree border which divides Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Locals are taking advantage of the cheaper fuel in Botswana and are smuggling it through the porous Plumtree border post and some undesignated entry points.

Most motorists now prefer the cheaper fuel being sold at the backyard filling stations despite the risk of buying contaminated fuel.

A fuel dealer said yesterday that he was buying unleaded petrol at $0.75 a litre in Botswana against an average of $1.35 being charged by local filling stations for blended fuel. The Botswana Pula is trading at 1 to 9 against the Dollar.

The backyard fuel stations are charging as little as $1,10 per litre for unleaded petrol depending on the quantity a client demands.

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