Government apologises for nationwide fuel shortages, cites logistical delays

Government apologises for nationwide fuel shortages, cites logistical delays

Government has issued a public apology for the fuel shortages reported across the country in recent days, attributing the disruption to delays in the distribution chain rather than a depletion of national reserves. Energy Minister Makozo Chikote acknowledged the inconvenience caused and moved to assure citizens that the country still holds sufficient fuel stocks.

According to figures released by the ministry, Zambia had 57,385,360 litres of diesel and 40,082,000 litres of petrol in reserve as of 11 November. The availability of these quantities, officials explained, shows that the country has not encountered a supply collapse. The challenge, instead, stemmed from logistical delays that slowed deliveries to retail stations in several districts.

Reports of long queues and temporary shutdowns at some service stations had raised concerns about national stock levels. The ministry said monitoring teams were deployed to track the movement of fuel and assess the extent of the disruption. Once briefed, transporters were instructed to increase the frequency of deliveries to ease pressure on affected towns.

Government officials also met oil marketing companies to strengthen coordination between depots and retail outlets. The objective, according to the ministry, is to ensure a consistent flow of product until normal supply patterns are restored.

Short term actions have already been implemented. These include prioritising districts that experienced the longest delays and clearing backlogs in the delivery schedule. Medium term measures are also underway. The ministry is reviewing monitoring systems, refining distribution planning and tightening communication channels among suppliers to prevent similar incidents.

While the situation has been described as temporary, the disruption affected motorists in several parts of the country. Some service stations ran out of petrol while others had limited diesel, creating pressure on outlets that still had stock. The ministry noted that these variations were a direct result of slowed truck movements rather than a shortage at national level.

Government monitoring teams have continued tracking daily reserves and dispatch patterns, ensuring that deliveries are spread evenly as operators work through the backlog. Officials indicated that fuel flow should stabilise as more trucks complete scheduled movements in the coming days.

Public concern that the shortages reflected deeper economic challenges was addressed through the ministry’s statement, which emphasised that scheduled imports had continued and that national reserves remained secure. The disruptions, it said, were confined to the distribution chain and not caused by scarcity at the source.

Chikote called for calm as supply levels move back to normal. He acknowledged the pressure placed on transport operators, businesses and households, and committed to providing further updates as the stabilisation process progresses.

Government expects full normalisation once the last delayed consignments reach their destinations, with continued monitoring to ensure all service stations return to regular operating patterns.