Fuel theft in Zambia is a major problem - and the average haulier loses 20% of his diesel. The problem stems from a mutual disrespect between the drivers (predominantly black) and the haulage bosses (mostly white or Asian). The drivers are treated as nothing more than a commodity, and in return the drivers see the diesel tank as a petty cash box. 'They dip into it whenever they need to eat or whenever they see a woman they want', explained one Zambian haulage boss.
When you drive along the main highways, every so often you see a fuel tank and a truck tyre by the roadside. This is a sign that there's a guy hiding in the bush nearby who wants to buy some illegal diesel. The truck driver pulls over, and within minutes 75 litres have been syphoned off.
But the drivers aren't always in on the scam - like the driver of this BP tanker. As soon as he pulled-up at the refinery to load, these two guys immediately started draining the dregs out of the empty tanker. This scene took place just yards away from a police road block.
And here are a few more waiting for the next tanker to arrive.
Diesel scams in Zambia -- tell me about it.
I left Zambia some 30+ years ago and diesel rip-offs were already a well established tradition by then.
When President Kaunda closed the border with Rhodesia and decreed that "all" imports were to come in through Dar-es-Salaam and fuel rationing was introduced the game was on -- ably lead by the Somalis of East Africa and other dubious bretheren.
A favourite was driver collusion with stores staff on the mines -- especially the big open pit operations where diesel consumption was vast. It went like this:
1 Pick up your (loaded) truck and documentation and proceed to mine.
2 Negotiate with stores recieving staff and acquire necessary load receipts, stamps etc.
3 Depart mine and spend rest of the day peddling your load.
4 If sales pitch not successful or market depressed proceed to a certain lay-bye on the Ndola - Kitwe road
5 Dump the load discretely (through the meter, of course) in the bush and return to Depot, handing in receipted documentation.
6 Go home to get ready for another busy day tomorrow.
There were also similar Lube-oil and tyre scams on the go, not to mention the (White operated) consortium that stole copper bars by the train-load.
I was in trucking myself and it was amazing what I was offered on the cheap from time to time - you could get anything to fall off the back of a lorry if you were that way inclined! Diesel "wholesalers and distributors" operated and took orders within sight of the refinery entrance at Ndola.