President Hakainde Hichilema has issued a warning that could not have come at a more critical time: fuel hoarding will not be tolerated.
This is not an empty threat, nor should it be treated as one. It is a necessary line in the sand in the face of a dangerous and all-too-familiar pattern among some players in Zambia’s commodity markets.
For years, Zambia has battled a recurring vice—hoarding. Whether it is fuel or maize, certain dealers have repeatedly withheld essential commodities during times of uncertainty, only to release them later at inflated prices. 
This practice is not entrepreneurship. It is exploitation, and in moments of national vulnerability, it becomes something far worse: economic sabotage.
The current global situation underscores just how serious this issue is. The ongoing Middle East conflict has disrupted oil supply chains, sending shockwaves through international markets.
With supply routes strained and prices rising, import-dependent countries like Zambia are inevitably exposed.
These are external pressures beyond the control of any one government.
What is within our control, however, is how domestic actors respond.
When oil marketing companies deliberately hoard fuel in such a climate, they are not merely reacting to market forces—they are manipulating them.
They create artificial shortages, trigger panic buying, and ultimately drive-up prices. The consequences are immediate and far-reaching.
Transport costs surge. Food prices rise. Small businesses struggle to operate. Ordinary citizens, already grappling with a high cost of living, are pushed further to the brink.
This is why President Hichilema is correct to label hoarding as economic sabotage. It is not a victimless act. It undermines economic stability, erodes public confidence, and punishes the most vulnerable members of society.
The time for warnings alone has passed. What is required now is decisive and visible action.
Government regulators must intensify surveillance across the fuel supply chain. Stock declarations by oil marketing companies must not simply be taken at face value—they must be verified rigorously. Any discrepancies between declared and actual stock levels should trigger immediate investigations.
More importantly, punishment must be swift and severe.
Companies found guilty of hoarding should face heavy fines, suspension of operating licenses, or outright closure.
Individuals responsible for orchestrating such schemes must be held personally accountable.
Without meaningful consequences, hoarding will persist, driven by the simple logic that the rewards outweigh the risks.
Zambia has seen this movie before with maize. During periods of anticipated shortages, some traders have hidden stocks to inflate prices, only to profit at the expense of national food security. Allowing a similar pattern to take hold in the fuel sector would be reckless and unforgivable.
Beyond enforcement, there is also a moral dimension that cannot be ignored.
Businesses do not operate in a vacuum. They are part of a broader social and economic ecosystem.
In times of crisis, corporate responsibility must take precedence over short-term profit.
The private sector often demands stability, predictability, and government support. That relationship must be reciprocal. It requires integrity and restraint, especially when the nation is under strain.
Equally troubling is the tendency to politicise crises of this nature. Global oil disruption is a reality, not a political narrative. Attempting to twist it into partisan debate only fuels misinformation and public anxiety.
Zambia has already witnessed how even solemn national matters can be dragged into political contestation. Doing the same with a fuel crisis would be both irresponsible and dangerous.
Citizens, too, have a role to play. Panic buying, often driven by rumours, can worsen shortages. Clear communication from the government, combined with responsible reporting and public cooperation, will be essential in maintaining stability.
In the final analysis, fuel is not just another commodity. It is the engine of the economy. To tamper with its availability for profit is to tamper with the nation’s wellbeing.
President Hichilema’s warning must, therefore, be backed by action. This is the moment for the government to put its foot down firmly and unmistakably. Those who hoard fuel in pursuit of profit at the expense of national stability must face the full force of the law.
Anything less would be a betrayal of the Zambian people.
