By Staff Reporter

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has implored on government to scrap ‘irrational’ fuel taxes catalysing sharp price increases plunging the nation into a crisis as the cost of living spirals.

In a statement, ZCTU said the nation was agitated by hardships spurred by fuel price increases. Fuel prices rose to US$2.17 per litre for petrol and US$2.05 for diesel on 18 March 2026.

ZCTU Secretary General Tirivanhu Marimo said workers were already feeling the heat as transport fares shot up in response to the announcement. He noted that while global oil price surged owing to the raging the US/Israel and Iran war in the Middle East, the local increases were too steep compared to those in neighbouring countries.

“ZCTU believes our fuel is overpriced due to numerous irrational taxes and levies ….these are costs directly transferred to the consumer by business people. We also find it irrational to blend petrol with ethanol if the end result is an increase in fuel costs,” said Marimo.

He warned the government that it could be weaponising fuel price increases to agitate a nation on the brink of poverty.

“We warn the government that the current wave of fuel price increases could trigger civil unrest from already agitated Zimbabweans who are on the edge as happened in January 209 when the fuel prices were increased between 130 percent and 150 percent,” said ZCTU.

In January 2019 Petrol prices rose from $1.24 a litre to $3.31, with diesel up from $1.36 a litre to $3.11 starting Sunday - one of the highest pump prices in the world.

The ZCTU responded by calling for a stay away which escalated into a week-long national shutdown. The police and military launched a massive crackdown and government ordered an internet and social media shut off as armed soldiers were patrolling the streets of major cities, unidentified men were reported to be sweeping through neighbourhoods and harassing people. The operation left hundreds injured and locked up in prisons. Among those arrested were the then ZCTU President Peter Mutasa and Secretary General Japhet Moyo charged with attempting to subvert a constitutionally elected government or, in the alternative, inciting public violence.