Trafigura accused of gaining unfair edge in Zimbabwe fuel trade
- Editor
- Apr 11, 2019
- 1 min read
Summary: Trafigura is accused of leveraging its joint venture with politically connected partner Sakunda in Zimbabwe to dominate fuel supply through privileged access to a critical state-owned pipeline. Both ruling and opposition politicians criticized the arrangement, with allegations of inflated fuel prices and undue control over fuel imports. Sakunda’s leader, Kudakwashe Tagwirei—nicknamed “Queen Bee” for his economic influence—has deep ties to Zimbabwe’s political elite. Trafigura denies receiving special treatment, asserting it pays in advance and operates under standard regulatory terms. Despite this, critics argue the firm’s pricing is opaque and disproportionately high, compounding Zimbabwe’s economic challenges. Analysts say the opaque joint venture setup distorts competition and undermines reforms intended to open the country to fair investment.
Source: FT
