NO price gouging at service stations and on public motor vehicle (PMV) fares will be tolerated, says the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC).
ICCC Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer Roy Daggy said that any service stations and PMV operators found to have increased prices due to the current fuel crisis would face the law under the Summary Offence and Indictable Offence, which may cost them up to about K40,000 in fines.
Daggy encouraged operators to maintain the approved fares under the National Gazette No. G21 approved on Jan 9 this year.
“We understand that these are tough times but there must be some sense of leniency and understanding between the public, PMV operators, and we as Government as we work on putting in measures to mitigate through together as a country,” he said.
“ICCC took a whole year to review prices and put new prices after thorough consultation with stakeholders, private and public sector.
“To change the price for a few days for the convenient of PMV operators is not going to be that issue.
“It is a constitutional process that can’t be changed overnight.”
Daggy added that the fuel crisis was brought about by the Middle East conflict, which disrupted production and shipment of oil to the Asian market.
The Government’s decision to introduce a K1 billion fuel relief package is a critical intervention to stabilise fuel prices and ensure supply security amidst global volatility, he said.
He said that this package would subsidise fuel price increases from April to September, shielding households, businesses, and the broader economy from inflationary shocks, and ensuring fuel supply security.
“PMV and taxi operators across the country should continue to provide the much-needed transport services, as the effect of the subsidy trickles down to fuel service stations,” he said.
