admin
are among the survivors, some of which are now doing quite well.
Among the many sectors, the transport sector felt the weight of economic challenges due to scarcity and high prices of spare parts, shortage of fuel and skills flight.
When an economy performs poorly, the transport business cannot be expected to flourish because of reduced travel caused by declining disposable incomes.
The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company is one such company that was hit hard by the economic challenges. However, it should be noted that for Zupco, even before the sanctions-induced problems, it was already struggling to compete against commuter omnibuses and other private players.
The company was also one of the first entities to benefit from the Look East Policy through the purchase of buses from China. Regrettably, many of these buses that were purchased about six years ago, are now grounded.
It is, therefore, quite heartening to learn that Zupco has started a three-year plan to recapitalise at the rate of 100 buses every year, beginning in 2011.
Added to this plan, to strengthen the business Zupco is set to launch a new cargo division during the last quarter of this year to support the passenger business. Zupco chief executive Mr Brian Chawasarira said the company would spend a substantial amount on the new business unit.
“We are starting a cargo unit in the third quarter. We have realised that Zimbabwe is now an agro-economy and to help the indigenous farmers, we will be starting a cargo unit to help farmers bring their produce to the markets,” said Mr Chawasarira.
We learn that the cargo business would be a strategic business unit within Zupco.
It is important though for Zupco to shake off its image of perceived poor management, poor maintenance of fleet and generally being unreliable.
This is in sharp contrast to the image that Zupco once had where the customer was king and punctuality was its hallmark.
It is no longer shocking to be asked to pay unofficial fares at bus termini by Zupco staff who retort that they are not paid well when you ask them why they are bringing the name of their company into disrepute by charging passengers for loading their luggage, for example.
Also, when Zupco re-introduced its urban bus service in Harare recently, commuter omnibus operators were quoted in the media as saying that they did not consider Zupco as competition since the company’s buses would soon be grounded due to poor systems of operation where management was so centralised that even small parts could ground buses since their purchase had to be sanctioned at head office in Harare.
These are the perceptions that Zupco has to change through good service so that customers regain lost confidence in the company.
It is important that the new buses are put to good use so that the company manages to repay its debts that appear to be haunting it due to years of under-performance.
If the company faced challenges on urban routes, it should be geared to serve farmers on worse roads and hence come up with plans to ensure that it has trucks that can withstand rough terrain.
It is our hope that the cargo SBU shall be given enough autonomy to run its business without unnecessary interference from senior management that is viewed as employing a centralised system of management by its competitors.
We believe there is room for Zupco to widen its services and modernise them in line with current trends, such as a return to timetables, and using internet-based systems to track its buses and also to provide buses where they are required at any particular time.
If the customer is made king again through consistent and good service by Zupco, considering the harassment that our people suffer at the hands of touts, Zupco will never go wrong.
Online Reporter