Harare Correspondent
HARARE – The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has issued a strong public warning against the use of unlicensed mobile fuel delivery services, declaring the growing trend illegal and a major safety hazard.
The alert comes in response to a noticeable increase in individuals and companies advertising ‘door-to-door’ diesel and petrol deliveries on social media and in press advertisements. ZERA has moved to clarify that no licensing category exists for such operations, making them entirely unlawful.
In an official statement, the energy regulator was unequivocal:
“Stakeholders and the public are advised that ZERA does not have a license category for mobile fuel dispensing, nor does it license trucks to do retail filling of fuel to consumers at their homes or doorsteps, nor at any other undesignated places.”
The Authority outlined that the only legal and safe methods for dispensing fuel are into vehicle tanks at officially licensed service stations or into large, professionally designed and approved storage tanks at major commercial premises.
ZERA explicitly condemned the informal practice of decanting fuel directly into vehicles or machinery at unauthorized locations, warning that it bypasses critical safety approvals.
“For safety reasons, fuel is only dispensed into vehicle fuel tanks from licensed fuel retail stations or into suitably designed, constructed and licensed storage tanks,” the statement read.
The authority highlighted that these rogue operations lack approval from local fire brigades, which are tasked with approving any site intended for fuel handling.
This omission, ZERA warned, puts unsuspecting customers at severe risk of fires and other accidents.
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