Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. HARARE, Mar. 20 (NewsDay Live) – The Nationalists Alliance Party (NAP) has sounded the alarm over surging fuel prices, warning of severe knock-on effects for households and businesses already strained by rising costs.
In a statement released Friday, party president Divine Mhambi Hove said the spike in fuel prices risks triggering widespread increases in the cost of basic goods and services.
“This increase places an unsustainable burden on small businesses, entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens, threatening a domino effect of price hikes across essential commodities,” Hove said.
He urged the government to intervene, arguing that Zimbabwe’s natural resources — particularly its lithium reserves — should be leveraged to ease the pressure.
“In this moment of economic strain, the government must act as both provider and protector. Our world-class lithium deposits must be used to deliver immediate relief,” he said.
NAP proposed an emergency “Lithium-for-Energy” Stabilisation Policy, under which a portion of lithium export revenues would be channelled into a National Fuel Fund to cushion consumers against global oil price shocks.
The party also called for temporary tax relief, including suspending fuel levies and carbon taxes for public transport operators and essential logistics providers.
“Our resources belong to the people. The wealth beneath our feet must be used to cushion the struggles on our streets,” Hove said.
Beyond government action, NAP appealed to wealthy Zimbabweans to prioritise national needs.
“We call on prominent philanthropists, often known for gifting luxury vehicles, to play a more patriotic role by helping subsidise fuel costs,” he added.
The party also warned against opportunistic fare increases in the transport sector, urging authorities to enforce regulations and protect commuters from exploitation.
“We call on the government to demonstrate its commitment to public welfare by adopting these common-sense measures without delay,” Hove said.
The proposal comes as Zimbabwe faces mounting economic pressure, with fuel price volatility threatening to ripple across the broader economy.
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