Zimbabwe faces civil unrest after petrol price hike

The Zimbabwe government has increased the price of petrol by a massive 72% overnight, raising the spectre of civil unrest.

Unrest have been triggered in the past by previous price hikes amid the nation's economic crisis.

Officials of the main union federation have convened an emergency meeting on the reverberations throughout the economy.

Industrialists have warned the fuel increases is likely to force more company closures.

Operating costs have already doubled this year with diminishing sales and at least 400 businesses have closed down, according to the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries.

It described the price increase announced by the state-run National Oil Company as a crippling blow.

Regular petrol has gone up to 85p a litre from 49p. Diesel, used in industry and agriculture, went up by 67%.

Cab driver Martin Jambwa said: "This is terrible news. I don't think it has sunk in yet, but when people realise it, there will be trouble. I don't know if I'll be able to stay in business."

Transport fares will soar further. In recent months, many workers have begun walking to their jobs.

Others, however, living in impoverished satellite suburbs pay more than a third of their meagre earnings in fares.

The cheapest bicycle costs the equivalent of a month's wages for a general labourer.

Inflation is already running at around 70% in the ailing economy and is expected to rise sharply.

The government had frozen fuel prices since October, when a 15% increase was announced. That hike, along with increases on bread, milk and other foodstuffs, triggered rioting in township suburbs of Harare.