ZAMBIA: Public anger over fuel crisis leads to minister's sacking

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

JOHANNESBURG, 7 Oct 2005 (IRIN) - Zambia's energy minister has been removed from his post amid rising public anger over a fuel crisis that is disrupting daily life and strangling the economy.

President Levy Mwanawasa announced on Thursday that energy Minister George Mpombo and his permanent secretary were being removed from office with immediate effect.

Despite the disruptions caused by the fuel shortage - the result of problems during maintenance work at Zambia's only oil refinery in Ndola - opposition party calls for public protests were largely ignored on Friday.

Both state and private radio reported no signs of protests by early afternoon, an indication that "people are too busy trying to get on with their lives", said University of Zambia political lecturer Fred Mutesa.

He told IRIN that although people "are angry and upset at the lack of foresight and the lack of planning to avoid the crisis", sacking the energy minister may have helped to diffuse tensions.

Private motorists were most affected by the fuel crisis, as "public transport is still operating, although erratic due to [interrupted] supply of fuel".

"I was at a petrol station this morning and people were anxious [about the situation] - they only wanted petrol and they had no time for demonstrations. I don't think people believe it [protesting] is a necessary course of action at the moment; they are too busy trying to get something in their tanks so they can carry on," Mutesa commented.

He felt it was still "a bit early" for public discontent to manifest in the form of demonstrations. "The mines were affected [by the fuel shortage] ... they've reduced capacity and seem to be getting on. But we do have a serious crisis and we are all upset".

Mining, mainly copper and cobalt, plays an important role in the economy, accounting for about 90 percent of foreign exchange earnings.

There has also been concern that the fuel crisis would hold-up efforts to import maize to mitigate food shortages in the country.

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