Zim President commissions more buses

Tendai Foto

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday commissioned 47 new Zimbabwe United Passenger Company, Zupco buses, as part of interventions to modernise the mass public transport system and cushion commuters from high transport fares being charged by private transport operators.

The buses come with wifi, mobile phone charging ports and an on board information center.

The commissioning is a major development of mass public transport, as Government strives to provide a seamless movement of commuters in the city and bring sanity to the chaotic urban transport system.

Zupco buses charge 50 cents for a distance of 17 kilometres, while private operators ask for RTGS$2.50 for the same distance.

President Mnangagwa commended the Harare Institute of Technology for coming up with a technology which will be used to track the fleet in order to ensure efficient use of the buses and reduce corruption.

Government is expecting delivery of another 47 buses to complement the existing fleet.

The president called on the city fathers to designate spaces for the buses to operate from in order to increase efficiency. He pleaded with passengers not to vandalize the buses and to keep them clean.

Speaking at the same occasion, Zupco’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Everisto Madangwa said the bus company now covers 120 routes in major urban areas with a fleet of 379 buses. He said rural areas are also on their plans.

“We have not forgotten about the needs of our rural populace, we intend to extend our services to rural routes where some operators are still overcharging passengers.”