RUSTENBURG – Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Thursday imposed strict measure to control the sale of fuel in the country following two weeks of shortages.

He said a car would only be allowed to fill about US$21 (250 Pula) fuel at a time and buying fuel using jerry cans would only be allowed on Thursdays. “Buying fuel using tanks will not be allowed,” he said.

Busses, taxis and emergency service vehicles have been excluded from this restriction.

He said fuel shortages in Botswana was caused by the demand in South Africa. Masisi said when South Africa eased its lockdown regulations, it experienced a high demand for petrol and diesel. South Africa then gave preference to local demand and rationed export.

The truck drivers strike in South Africa and maintenance of two refineries also has affected supply of goods and services to Botswana.

Masisi said his government was engaging with the South African government to address the issue, explaining that the other option was to transport fuel by rail but trains travelled through Kimberley because the nearest rail tracks between Krugersdorp and Mahikeng were closed.

Botswana sources 90% of its fuel from South Africa and the remainder is from Mozambique and Namibia.

The Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 recently disputed that testing at Botswana border points was the source of the fuel shortage in the country.

Coordinator Dr Kereng Masupu said system problems by clearing agents caused the delay, not Covid-19 testing.

– Nampa/ANA