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Fuel Scam Exposed
THE Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has unearthed a scam in which some petroleum transporters are allegedly mixing petrol and diesel with kerosene before delivering the commodities at service stations.
ERB chairperson Geoff Mwape revealed this in Lusaka yesterday during a public hearing on fuel transportation licensing.
Pastor Mwape said ERB is fully aware of what is happening in the petroleum industry, including unscrupulous transporters contaminating diesel and petrol by mixing them with paraffin.
“Maybe those who are contaminating fuel and causing confusion are coming from the pirates. We will not spare them, we will expose them and the police will move in,” Pastor Mwape said.
But Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia (PTAZ) president Roberto Sabbadin accused some foreign truck drivers of being behind the illegality.
“No…no…no. This no longer happens. It used to be the case sometime back. We used to call it changanya (mixed), but I’m sure it is the Tanzanian truck drivers who do this,” Mr Sabbadin said.
Meanwhile, Pastor Mwape said ERB is also aware of some oil marketing company owners that have political interests and have an agenda to frustrate and embarrass Government.
“Don’t entangle yourself in politics. We know your activities and those filling stations with pot holes will be closed even without a letter,” he warned.
Earlier, the much awaited public hearing organised by ERB to sort out squabbles in the country’s petroleum industry was marred by a protest by the PTAZ over allegation that the board favoured foreigners.
PTAZ representatives stormed out of the meeting, claiming that ERB was promoting foreign interests.
“We are not allowed to do business elsewhere in the region and why should ERB allow foreigners to do business here? And since when did we start having public hearings in the petroleum industry? This meeting is a sham!” charged PTAZ spokesperson Benson Tembo.
The nearly 150 people that turned up at Government Complex for the public hearing were stunned as Mr Tembo and a handful of others, including Mr Sabbadin, left the meeting.
“We will go and see the minister (of Energy) and we will ensure that he fires this board. For 22 years, such a meeting (public hearing) has never taken place. What are they up to? As locals, we have 497 tankers which are capable of transporting fuel,” said a visibly upset Mr Sabbadin.
Back inside, business went on normally as people from various petroleum companies and the public submitted their views on the subject of local people participating.
Later, Pastor Mwape assured the majority of people that had remained in the auditorium that Government wants indigenous Zambians to actively participate in the country’s petroleum business.
Pastor Mwape, who was flanked by other board members, told the hearing that Government has a deliberate policy of empowering indigenous Zambians and the board has thus taken upon itself to effect the policy.
“The political directive by the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development to ensure only locals are allowed is not in contrast with what ERB is doing. This board is about local participation,” he said.
He said every company currently participating in the fuel business is duly registered and warned that ERB will not tolerate anarchy in the petroleum industry.
“There is no confusion in the industry. Those who walked out did so in their democratic right. And all those hiding or using Zambians as fronts will be exposed,” Pastor Mwape warned.
Posted by Editor
on October 16, 2014. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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Judge Joe Bidden
October 16, 2014 at 8:52 am
Bafikala do they know how much it costs to repair some of these sensitive cars if contaminated fuel is used? Ati changanya it’s a shame we are still corrupt
Any pastor that mandates you to pay for prayers is a false pastor
October 16, 2014 at 9:14 am
This is just insane! Imagine, we have turned God’s ministry into money doubling tinz!. “Give us some money and you’ll see what God will do”. This is just a scam for crying out loud.
chenda munenge
October 16, 2014 at 9:36 am
What is the pastor doing at ERZ Kanshi?
malama
October 16, 2014 at 9:32 am
Suban and petroda
DIP STICK
October 16, 2014 at 9:36 am
MY SUBARU ALWAYS GIVES ME A “CHECK ENGINE” WHEN I REFUEL AT SOME FILLING STATIONS. THIS COULD BE THE CAUSE AND WAS ONCE ADVISED TO MIND FILLING STATIONS I USE.
A FRIEND’S CAR HAD TO GO FOR REPAIRS WHERE THE TANK ENDED UP BROUGHT DOWN FOR CLEANING AFTER DIAGNOSIS.
DIP STICK
October 16, 2014 at 9:40 am
INDEED. SUBAN, PETRODA, SGC AND THE LIKES ARE SUSPICIOUS. EVEN THE SMELL OF THEIR PETROL IS NOT NORMAL
jane mulembwe
October 16, 2014 at 4:57 pm
Walipena ati the smell is not normal kikikikikikkikiki youve made my day by that comment
Trixy
October 16, 2014 at 9:52 am
SUBAN, PETRODA, SGC and especially MT MERU!!
T.K
October 16, 2014 at 9:52 am
Bonse mwalishiba.Chaba kwati bulwele bwa kalaye Noko.(HIV/AIDS)LILYA UMO ALWALA ELYO NABIMBI BATUMBUKA ATI;ULYA UMUKASHANA NALIMWISHIBE NAINE.You are just telling us lies you have just unfolded.What was the pastor doing?I thought he was suppose to be administering the mushrooming of Churches.What does he know about petroleum?Our engines have been damaged.Is ERB going to compensate us as motorists throughout the Republic?ERB is a toothless bulldog.
IYEE ATI ERB mwebantu………plse
Green
October 16, 2014 at 10:09 am
No one can touch mt meru,sgc or petroda,because all the scumbags at erb are in their pockets.most of these guys are somalians with a years of experience as pirates.The worst is coming
Trixy
October 16, 2014 at 10:43 am
And all this at the expense of our cars?!!!!
Trixy
October 16, 2014 at 10:51 am
Okey, fine, the ERB “Scumbags” can be in their pockets but one day they will wake up and find no one at their filing stations to buy their changanya fuel…even just this exposure is enough to put them out of business if people are serious. Very few people can risk the life span of their car after being given this kind of information… At an extra fee of K2, I am better off fuelling at VUMA or BP than risk damage to my car!
Trixy
October 16, 2014 at 10:53 am
Sorry, I meant to say I am better off fuelling at BP or TOTAL than risk damage to my car!
Laso
October 16, 2014 at 11:24 am
I thought BP left zambia?
Trixy
October 16, 2014 at 11:32 am
Yes they did, taken over by PUMA but some of us tend to still call them BP. I wonder if their fuel is still the same quality though.
Levy
October 16, 2014 at 11:02 am
ERB, it is not enough to just say you know who is involved in this scam. Go ahead and provide evidence to the police so that the guys are arrested. What they are doing is criminal! It is economic sabotage! A lot of people’s cars will be (or already have been) damaged.Repairing or replacing engines or engine components is expensive! Let them face the law!
test@e
October 16, 2014 at 11:05 am
is the name Sabaddin indigenous? I am worried is the PTAZ president. is fighting tanzanians bit his sounds like is from Somalia. We want names like Hamabolo, Chibwe, Foloko, Aongola, mwinsho, to benefit from this fuel transportation.
lozi
October 16, 2014 at 11:56 am
Rubbish ERB. Name them so that we know them. That is a criminal act , then u say we shall expose them. When? Why wait.
whats up
October 16, 2014 at 1:36 pm
Most culprits are those filling stations owned by somalians and one of the puma(bp) stations in kitwe is being run by a somalia and since i discovered that i no longer fuel my car there
mark sweswe
October 16, 2014 at 4:53 pm
This is pure greed and people with no morals whatsover,do you imbeciles know how an engine can get so damaged that it can be a right off immediately for some cars!Ba kolokombwa im so angry.In the western world this can be a big lawsuit!!I think its best to tank up at places like malls etc og world known gas stations because these private owned ones its just a money making scheme with no proper care for the customer!
mark sweswe
October 16, 2014 at 4:56 pm
Solution or problem solved let us all stand together and put these wannabe gas stations out of business by simply not filling up in their so called filling stations!Let us unite as people working hard for our money that we spend and unsuspectingly destroying our cars its actually daylight robbery!
Zoona
October 17, 2014 at 10:21 am
Our fuel in Zambia is very expensive. On top of this we get Changanya fuel at some filling stations. It is unfair in a Christian nation where even some pastors are at the forefront of these scams. Sometimes I blame my mechanic for not servicing the engines properly when there is loss of power in my vehicles. Please ERB come up with laws such that before decanting, the quality of fuel is checked by an independent authority (or the standards group)without any corruption. Deal with the culprits severely.
Mzee Hekima
October 17, 2014 at 11:17 am
There is a Mall in Chilenje which is charging customers to use Ablutions or toilets. I think it is not right it houses Spur Supermarket and some pubs for that reason i have decided to boycot the Mall.
edav
October 18, 2014 at 8:32 am
HUMMER YANGA YAOONONGEKA