Southern African motorists are paying vastly different prices for fuel, and it’s drivers in Zimbabwe and Malawi who are feeling the most pain at the pump.
Both countries currently have the highest fuel prices in the region, outpacing neighbours like Angola, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.
Fuel prices: How diesel compares
According to global fuel price data from 3 November 2025, Malawi has the region’s highest diesel price at around $1.64 (R28.54) per litre, followed by Zimbabwe at $1.32(R22.97).
At the other extreme, Angola, an oil-rich nation, boasts diesel prices of only $0.44 (R7.66) per litre, the cheapest not only in Southern Africa but among the lowest globally.
Other SADC countries fall in the middle range:
- 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 average sits around $1.15 (R20.01) per litre, but the gap between Angola and Malawi is striking, Angolans pay nearly three times less for diesel than Malawians.
Petrol prices show a similar pattern
The petrol data tells a similar story. As of the same period:
- Angola: $0.33 (R5.74) per litre (one of the cheapest 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)
That means Zimbabwean motorists pay roughly six times more for petrol than those in Angola, a staggering gap across the same region.
Why Zimbabwe and Malawi top the price list
Both countries share key challenges that drive up fuel costs:
- Import dependence: Neither has domestic refineries, meaning they import all fuel.
- Weak currencies: The Zimbabwe and Malawi currencies continue to lose value, pushing up import costs.
- High taxes and levies: Both governments rely heavily on fuel taxes for revenue.
- Logistics costs: Landlocked geography adds transport and handling expenses.
In Zimbabwe, fuel is priced in U.S. dollars, and shortages of forex often push companies to source currency from the parallel market, making it even more expensive.
In Malawi, the reliance on Mozambican and Tanzanian ports inflates costs further.
Quick view: Southern Africa fuel prices (Nov 2025)
| Country | Diesel (USD/L) | Petrol (USD/L) |
|---|---|---|
| Angola | 0.44 | 0.33 |
| Botswana | 1.10 | 1.19 |
| Namibia | 1.13 | 1.22 |
| South Africa | 1.18 | 1.27 |
| Mozambique | 1.17 | 1.32 |
| Zimbabwe | 1.32 | 1.96 |
| Malawi | 1.64 | 2.08 |
