Zimbabwe’s persistently high fuel prices are being driven by a mix of structural costs, taxes, and procurement inefficiencies, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has said. Speaking at a business forum in Bulawayo, Ncube outlined why motorists in Zimbabwe continue to pay more at the pump compared to regional peers, despite global oil price fluctuations.

MUTARE – Fuel dealers in Manicaland are increasingly turning to cross-border smuggling, exploiting a widening price gap between Zimbabwe and neighbouring Mozambique, as petrol and diesel costs remain among the highest in the region. Industry sources say the illicit trade has intensified in recent weeks, driven by the sharp difference in pump prices. Diesel is currently selling for about US$1.09 per litre in Mozambique compared to US$2.11 in Zimbabwe, while petrol costs around

HARARE – Zimbabweans have been urged to drastically reduce travel and “park their cars” as fuel prices remain among the highest in the region, with petrol pegged at US$2.23 per litre and diesel at US$2.11. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube issued the warning while speaking at the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings 2026 on April 15, saying motorists must “rationalise” fuel usage in the face of persistent high prices.

HARARE – The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has announced a sharp increase in Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) prices for April 2026, raising the cost to US$1.85 per kilogramme, up from US$1.56 in March.

The Namibia government has slashed fuel levies by 50 percent for three months in a bid to shield consumers from rising global oil prices, even as pump prices are set to increase from 1 April 2026. The temporary Namibia fuel tax reduction 2026 measure, announced on 27 March, will run until the end of June, with authorities drawing from the National Energy Fund to cushion motorists and businesses.

HARARE, ZIMBABWE – Zimbabwe is accelerating development of the Muzarabani oil and gas project as part of efforts to reduce reliance on imported fuel, stabilise local supply, and shield the economy from volatile global energy prices driven by Middle East tensions. The project, located in the Cabora Bassa Basin, is now the country’s most advanced hydrocarbon exploration initiative, according to government officials.