Fuel prices keep going up because Iran has threatened to attack ships that try to pass through a major oil route used to transport fuel around the world. This has disrupted oil supply and pushed prices higher.Zimbabwean motorists woke up to another fuel shock this March. s Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority, ZERA, has sharply raised pump prices nationwide.
Diesel now costs US$1.77 per litre, while petrol, or blend, stands at US$1.71. For workers, farmers, and transport operators, every trip has suddenly become more expensive.
ZERA announces new March
tariffs
ZERA says the new prices took effect on 4 March 2026 for two weeks. The regulator promises to monitor market developments and ensure adequate fuel supplies. It stresses that the increases follow “astronomical” shifts on international oil markets.
According to ZERA, government has reduced some of its own charges to cushion consumers. Without this cushioning, diesel would cost US$1.90 per litre, with petrol at US$1.81. That reminder offers little comfort to citizens already squeezed by rising living costs.

War ripples from the Middle East
Many analysts link the latest surge to tensions involving Israel and Iran. The conflict has rattled global energy routes and pushed crude prices sharply higher. Zimbabwe, which imports all its fuel, cannot escape those external shocks.
Consequently, each new shipment arrives priced higher, forcing regular adjustments at the pumps. Commuters now face steeper fares, while haulage companies rethink delivery schedules and margins. Small businesses, especiallyZimbabwean motorists woke up to another fuel shock this March. The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority, ZERA, has sharply raised pump prices nationwide.
Diesel now costs US$1.77 per litre, while petrol, or blend, stands at US$1.71. For workers, farmers, and transport operators, every trip has suddenly become more expensive.ZERA says the new prices took effect on 4 March 2026 for two weeks.
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