Zambia: Government to leave product procurement to private sector

Finance minister Felix Mutati has said the government will pull out of the procurement of finished petroleum products next year. In his budget address to parliament on 11 November, Mutati announced that, to improve the efficiency of fuel imports and rein in the surging fiscal deficit, procurement of finished petroleum products will be undertaken solely by private companies from March 2017. “The government’s role will be limited to regulation… regarding pricing, the government will adjust prices in line with changes in market conditions,” Mutati said.