Despite a slight dip in petrol prices, Zimbabwe’s fuel remains among the most expensive in Africa, forcing motorists to pay more than the global average.

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) announced a minor adjustment for September, with petrol prices dropping from US1.56 to US1.55 per litre. Diesel prices remained unchanged at US$1.55 per litre.

A mandatory 20% ethanol blend and a heavy tax burden are the primary reasons for the persistently high costs.

This marginal change is a drop in the ocean for local consumers, who are still paying well above the global average price of US$1.29 per litre.

As of August 2025, Zimbabwe’s petrol price was the third highest in Africa, ranking only behind the Central African Republic and Senegal.

While the government has avoided the costly fuel subsidies seen in other countries like Nigeria and Angola, it relies on fuel taxes and levies to generate revenue.

These charges alone add a substantial amount to the pump price.
The blend adds more than US$1.10 per litre to petrol costs, pushing up the final price for consumers.