At those prices, a full tank of petrol costs more than a month's salary for a cook or a maintenance worker, and more than half a month's salary for a doctor. The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) condemned the move in a tweet Sunday. The government was piling more misery on to already suffering Zimbabweans, MDC said. "Surely this madness must stop." Already in January, the government almost tripled petrol prices and has regularly increased the prices since then.
The January announcement sparked violent protests that were put down by the security forces. When troops opened fire on the demonstrators they killed 17 people and wounded dozens more.