Own Correspondent|Energy and Power Development Minister Joram Gumbo has blame the spate of fires in the country on people allegedly hoarding fuel at their premises.

Speaking in a news interview on Star FM radio on Wednesday, Gumbo said that Zimbabweans are unnecessarily hoarding fuel at their premises resulting in the fires that have gutted properties around the country.

“People are unnecessarily keeping fuel in their homes and this can be directly linked to the spate of fires around the country,” said Gumbo.

The Minister dismissed emerging fuel shortages at most filling stations claiming that there can be no shortages of fuel in the country at the moment as government has stocked enough fuel to last the country for 18 months.

Gumbo blamed the emerging shortages to social media messages that have been encouraging motorists to stock up fuel in preparation for the festive season. According to the messages, the country is set to have a severe fuel shortage over the festive season.

Gumbo said Zimbabweans should not place their trusts on social media.

“We can not have our people believe in the social media than they do to the government,” he said.

“What we say as government is the truth and people should believe us. We have more than 18 months stock of fuel in the country and panic buying due to social media is causing the temporary shortages.”