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The expressions of interest from the other consortia are probably in the pipeline and should be welcomed,” he said.
He said the city was looking for long-term solutions that addressed woes “bedevilling the urban commuters”.
Council has already indicated that it wants commuter omnibuses outlawed because they are a traffic menace and have failed to address the city’s transport needs.
Zupco board chairperson Dr Chipo Dyanda last Friday dismissed reports that her board turned down offers by two companies that wanted to partner it.
She said no one had approached the company with any proposal for a partnership.
“No one has really approached us. We have never discussed such issues. Such issues have never been considered by the board. Government has also not come out in the open to say they want a partner for Zupco. It all hinges on the shareholder,” she said.
She said her board remained open to proposals, but hinted that soliciting for partners was the responsibility of the shareholder.
“If anything involves shareholding, it becomes Government business,” she said.
She said her board could not discuss such matters without the permission of the Government, adding that Zupco was not on the list of Government-owned companies the State was seeking partners for.
She said the provision of a mass bus transport system remained the responsibility of Zupco.
The company operates a fleet of 100 buses and expects another 100 buses this year.
“We cannot shake off that responsibility. Our problem at the moment is lack of capacity,” she said.
She said once the company had 200 buses, it could consider going into the mass bus transport business beginning with Harare.
Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo, under whose purview Zupco falls, said Government would only consider good and serious proposals.
He said Pioneer approached the Government but only wanted to use Zupco’s depots, a deal that Government turned down.
“They wanted to come for the depots and not to partner with Zupco,” he said.
He said a Chinese company also made similar proposals, which were not considered.
At least 500 conventional buses are required to service Harare and its satellite towns of Chitungwiza, Ruwa and Epworth.
The city has already guaranteed to protect routes to be serviced by a mass bus transport system through denying other users permits to ensure the investor gets a return on the investment.
Mass transit refers to public transportation systems designed to move large numbers of passengers.
Online Reporter