THE current fuel shortage in many parts of Zambia has no doubt negatively affected daily routines at different levels.

The shortage has had a negative multiplier effect on the transport and other sectors whose operations solely depend on the availability of fuel, as lack of it scuttles daily chores.

However, the Government has put in measures to forestall the shortage particularly by waiving the 25 per cent import duty so that the oil marketing companies (OMCs) can start importing the commodity without incurring losses.

Additionally, the Government has engaged Kuwait's Independent Petroleum Group and Kenya-based Dalbit Petroleum to supply 50 million litres of diesel and 11 million litres of petrol.

These measures will certainly result in the normal flow of fuel in service stations in a few days to come.

One of the reasons the long queues in service stations appear to be a permanent feature is that customers are panic-buying.

The other important factor to note is that it takes long for the tankers to roll from Dar-es-Salaam and other ports into Zambia. In short, the distribution process has been disrupted and would take some days for the supply to normalise.

It is against such a background that citizens should exercise patience, as the shortage is a temporary setback, which will normalise when all the stock gets into the distribution chain.

The Government is well aware of the implications and impact of the shortage on the national economy and ramifications at community and household levels. Technocrats and policy makers are doing their part.

It is sad though that some unscrupulous vendors are conniving with rogue fuel attendants to sell fuel at inflated prices to desperate motorists. Such elements should be weeded out immediately.

The police and other security wings as well as local authorities should be detailed to deal with such unlawful conduct while motorists should not buy fuel from illegal vendors, as they would be abetting crime.