Maravi

Mateyo warns fuel vendors

Mateyo warns fuel vendors
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Thursday April 05, 2007 [04:00]

INSPECTOR General of Police Ephraim Mateyo has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to fuel vendors to stop the exercise or face prosecution. Mateyo said yesterday that following rampant fuel vending on the national highways throughout the country by youths, he had decided to issue a 48-hour ultimatum for them to stop with immediate effect.

He said he had directed all police commanding officers to mobilise their human resource in order to effectively curb the scourge in the interest of the people.

Mateyo said in most cases, the petroleum vendors did not sell genuine products because petrol and diesel were usually diluted with water so that their profit margins could expand.

“To be forewarned is to be forearmed and anyone caught up in this scenario will have themselves to blame when officers swing into action,” he said.

Mateyo said officers would not only be expected to confiscate all containers used for decanting petrol and diesel respectively but ensure that offenders were arrested and taken to court for prosecution.

He said his officers would work with officials from the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) where possible during such operations.

Mateyo said it was an offence for any person to trade in petroleum products without a licence under the law because people’s lives and property has been lost due to careless storage of such products.

Labels: FUEL

posted by MrK @ 3:17 AM