More ZUPCO buses by month-end

Takudzwa Chihambakwe

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has revealed that a fleet of 100 buses is expected in the country by the end of October and that the majority of them will service rural routes.

He said the fleet is part of 1000 buses that government is buying from China.

“Some of you always hear that there are new ZUPCO buses but you have never seen them,” said President Mnangagwa while addressing delegates at the inaugural Rural District Councils Conference in Harare on Thursday.

“At the end of this month we shall be receiving a fleet of 100 buses from China and I have spoken with the minister of Local Government, July Moyo and told him that these buses must be dedicated to rural areas. “We have been providing urban areas with buses since we started acquiring the buses but I feel this time we also need to remember the rural folk,” said the President.

The news comes a few days after ZUPCO, through the ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing launched a scheme that will see commuter omnibus operators partnering with the government to offer public transport services at cheaper rates.