Govt Cushions Citizens Against Fuel Prices

The government has taken a decision to introduce measures to cushion citizens from the rise in the cost of fuel caused by external factors, primarily the Middle East conflict. Addressing the nation on Thursday, President Advocate Duma Boko said government understood that Batswana were concerned about the recent fuel and transportation price increase and the likelihood of food costs also rising as a consequence. President Boko announced that fuel as well as security of supply levies were suspended for six months.

“These levies, charged at 245.5 thebe per litre for petrol and 239.5 thebe per litre for diesel, are suspended to cushion motorists and consumers from the rising fuel costs.” The government has also decided to reduce work trips undertaken in the civil service for a duration of three months, apart from essential services. Furthermore, President Boko said government would monitor retailers to ensure that they did not increase the prices of essential goods in a manner disproportionate to the rise in fuel costs. Therefore, he urged the nation to be united in this period where the country faced the challenge of an economic downturn induced by reduced diamond sales in the global market as well as rising fuel costs caused by the Middle East crisis.