UPDATE: Redan under the fire of the coupons

Innocent Ruwende, Harare Office
REDAN Petroleum (Pvt) Ltd has issued a 72-hour ultimatum on the part of its customers to cancel its decision to cancel the value of the coupons they had purchased before the fuel price increase or under penalty of prosecution.

The 50 customers risk losing more than $ 200,000 if Redan does not cancel its decision.

Redan Petroleum has been accused of defrauding customers, who had snagged vouchers, by reducing the amount of fuel that could be traded as a result of the government's decision to raise fuel prices a fortnight ago.

A coupon that can exchange 200 liters, only reaches 80 liters.

New retail prices are $ 3.31 per liter (previously $ 1.32) for gasoline and $ 3.11 per liter (previously $ 1.38) for diesel.

On January 12, Redan issued a statement in which he said he had reduced, for example, 20 liters of gasoline coupons to 8 liters and 200 liters to 80 liters after the price rises.

On Wednesday, Alex F & Associates, representing 56 clients, wrote to Redan to threaten legal action if the fuel on the coupons was not restored within 72 hours.

The attorney, Mr. Godfrey Nyamukuwa, confirmed yesterday that they had sent Redan a letter following instructions from their clients.

"Our customers told us that at different times during the period from December 2017 to December 2018, they individually purchased gasoline and diesel coupons directly from your company, in terms of individual contracts. between your company and our customers, "reads the letter.

"They were given coupons of gasoline indicating the exact quantities to which they were entitled individually. The express terms of the contract stipulated that your company would not be liable for any loss or damage to the coupons. The coupons would be valid for a limited time, after which they would be irremediable. "

Counsel argued that the contract implied the following: the company would allow its customers to obtain fuel equivalent to the amounts on coupons at Puma and any other station designated by Redan.

"Revoke the public notice that you have issued to the public and by which you have illegally canceled the gasoline coupons issued to our customers and members of the public," wrote the attorneys. "Allow our customers to access fuel in the quantities indicated on the coupons issued.

"If your company does not honor their coupons and for its value, and this request within seven days of receipt of this letter, we have strict instructions to take legal action against you." 39 against your company in order to obtain an appropriate remedy. "