Southern African motorists are paying vastly totally different costs for gas, and it’s drivers in Zimbabwe and Malawi who’re feeling essentially the most ache on the pump.
Each international locations presently have the best gas costs within the area, outpacing neighbours like Angola, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.
Gasoline costs: How diesel compares
In line with world gas value knowledge from 3 November 2025, Malawi has the area’s highest diesel value at round $1.64 (R28.54) per litre, adopted by Zimbabwe at $1.32(R22.97).
On the different excessive, Angola, an oil-rich nation, boasts diesel costs of solely $0.44 (R7.66) per litre, the most affordable not solely in Southern Africa however among the many lowest globally.
Different SADC international locations fall within the center vary:
Botswana: $1.10 (R19.14)
Namibia: $1.13 (R19.66)
Lesotho: $1.14 (R19.84)
South Africa: $1.18 (R20.53)
Mozambique: $1.17 (R20.36)
The regional common sits round $1.15 (R20.01) per litre, however the hole between Angola and Malawi is putting, Angolans pay almost 3 times much less for diesel than Malawians.
Petrol costs present the same sample
The petrol knowledge tells the same story. As of the identical interval:
Angola: $0.33 (R5.74) per litre (one of many least expensive globally)
Botswana: $1.19 (R20.71)
Namibia: $1.22 (R21.23)
South Africa: $1.27 (R22.10)
Mozambique: $1.32 (R22.97)
Zimbabwe: $1.96 (R34.10)
Malawi: $2.08 (R36.19)
Meaning Zimbabwean motorists pay roughly six occasions extra for petrol than these in Angola, a staggering hole throughout the identical area.
Why Zimbabwe and Malawi prime the value listing
Each international locations share key challenges that drive up gas prices:
Import dependence: Neither has home refineries, that means they import all gas.
Weak currencies: The Zimbabwe and Malawi currencies proceed to lose worth, pushing up import prices.
Excessive taxes and levies: Each governments rely closely on gas taxes for income.
Logistics prices: Landlocked geography provides transport and dealing with bills.
In Zimbabwe, gas is priced in U.S. {dollars}, and shortages of foreign exchange typically push firms to supply foreign money from the parallel market, making it much more costly.
In Malawi, the reliance on Mozambican and Tanzanian ports inflates prices additional.
