MBABANE: Sabelo Dlamini, the Secretary General of the Eswatini Local Kombis Association said the increase of the price of petrol would kill their businesses.
Speaking during an interview with this Swaziland News on Wednesday, shortly after the Ministry of Natural Resources announced an increase in fuel prices, Dlamini said their businesses were still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and they might not survive the imminent fuel price increase.
"Our businesses were still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic but with the imminent increase of the price of petrol, they are likely to collapse completely. We are still struggling with servicing bank loans and now we will have to shoulder another burden which is the fuel price increase. Those who implemented the fuel price increase were selfish not to consider our plight as transport operators\",he said.
On Wednesday, Dorcas Dlamini, the Principal Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy announced a fuel price increase that would be effective on the 5th February 2021. He said the fuel price increase had been influenced by the upward movement of oil prices that have been triggered by the stimulation of global economic activity due to the rolling out of COVID-19 vaccines.
The price of unleaded petrol increased by 70 cents from E 12.45 / litre to 13.15/litre. Diesel also increased by 70 cents, from E12.90 / litre to E13.60/ litre.
Kombi Association slams government on fuel price increase