Harare, (New Ziana) — The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has said it had arrested 102 illegal Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) fillers in a compliance enforcement blitz conducted in and around Harare.
In a statement posted on its X account, ZERA said the operation was aimed at enhancing public safety among energy users and enforcing statutory standards designed to protect property and the environment from the volatile risks associated with unregulated gas handling.
“The blitz resulted in the apprehension of 102 illegal Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) fillers. This sweeping crackdown underscores the regulatory body’s unwavering commitment to stamping out illicit roadside and backyard energy product trading,” ZERA said.
According to the Authority, the blitz was conducted between September 3 and 10, 2026 and covered high-density suburbs in and around Harare, including Mabvuku and Tafara, Chitungwiza and Makoni, as well as Kuwadzana, Cold Comfort, Warren Park, Kambuzuma, Rugare, Dzivarasekwa and Epworth, where the highest number of arrests were recorded.
ZERA said the enforcement drive follows its proactive measure to slash licensing costs by more than 50 percent, a policy shift intended to remove financial barriers and encourage informal operators to regularise their businesses.
The Authority warned that illegal LPG dealing poses serious dangers including fires and explosions from overfilled cylinders, leaks from substandard and tampered equipment, contamination of gas with water or paraffin which damages appliances, unsafe transport, and denial of insurance claims.
The blitz comes amid growing concern over recent gas-related accidents. Fire safety experts have warned Harare is sitting on a gas time bomb as vendors cook with LPG in crowded parts of the CBD, with makeshift kitchens operating in narrow, poorly ventilated spaces surrounded by combustible materials, where a single knock, leak or spark could trigger a chain reaction.
In May this year, seven people were injured after a truck transporting fuel and gas cylinders caught fire while offloading at Jumbo Mine in Mazowe. The truck was carrying three 200-litre drums of diesel, three drums of petrol and eight 48kg gas cylinders and had no licence to trade in petroleum products.
In October last year, a three-year-old boy died and four others were injured in Kenzamba, Chinhoyi, when a 45-year-old man attempted to fix a leaking gas cylinder while seated close to an open fire. The cylinder exploded, engulfing those nearby.
ZERA said the operation is part of its mandate of making the energy space safer for all and urged consumers to buy LPG only from licensed retailers.
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