Residents plead for Zupco return as commuter fares spike

BULAWAYO residents have expressed concern over the recent increase in intercity commuter transport fares and appealed to the Government to intervene or bring back the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) and private bus operators to ease the strain on ordinary people.

Following the recent increase in fuel prices, commuter omnibus operators have hiked their fares to US$1 from 10 Rand per trip, almost double the old charges, a development that has piled immense pressure on households.

Government announced the new fuel prices on March 4 in response to the disruption of global oil supply chains occasioned by the ongoing United States and Israel war with Iran, which has disrupted shipping operations in the Middle East region, the hub of fuel supplies.

Authorities have said the US$2,05 per litre for diesel and US$2,17 per litre for petrol are measured levels after the Government reduced some of its charges to cushion the consumers from astronomical increases sparked by the international market dynamics.

Commuters have said the fares strain is unbearable for those who engage in double trips to and from work or school children as they have to part with US$4 per day on transport from about US$2 while those travelling longer routes to destinations such as Cowdray Park, and Rangemore or those travelling late at night are forced to pay a double fare of US$2 per trip.

“I now have to spend almost US$60 a month just on transport,” said Ms Nomsa Dube, a vendor.

“If this continues, I will be forced to stop coming to town because it no longer makes economic sense.”

Others said they were now resorting to using open trucks and some private vehicles that charge them less than commuter operators.

While transport operators have cited the need to keep afloat, residents argue that the burden is being unfairly transferred to ordinary people without adequate regulation or consultation.

“We understand that operators are facing challenges, but there must be a balance,” said Mr Thabani Moyo, a commuter who travels to town every day.

“There is a need for authorities and transport providers to come together and find a sustainable solution that protects commuters.”

Residents recalled how Zupco, a Government-owned transport company, has always come in handy in times of distress to bring stability in the public transport sector and urged Government to consider extending such a reprieve again.

Many residents said they believed that a stronger presence of Zupco could help regulate prices and curb arbitrary fare increases by private operators.

They said that despite operational limitations, Zupco buses were perceived to be more affordable and would only need to boost their fleet to meet demand and ensure efficiency in terms of meeting travel timelines.

“We used to wake up as early as 5 AM just to catch a Zupco bus and even then, we did not mind waiting in long queues,” said another resident identified as Mr Ncube.

“Now, we are more afraid that the fees will hike more due to unpredictable weather changes.”

As calls for action grow louder, residents said attention is now on both Zupco and private bus companies to respond to the challenge and bridge the gap.

For many commuters, the hope is not just for reduced fares but for a reliable, fair and efficient transport system that meets the needs of all citizens.

Contacted for comment, Tshova Mubaiwa transport co-operative chairman, Mr Ndaba Mabunda, however, defended the fare increase, saying the adjustment was largely driven by the sudden rise in fuel prices.

“Fuel has been raised so suddenly without notice and the rise is alarmingly high. There are a lot of factors affecting fares, but the main one is fuel,” he said.

Mr Mabunda added that while operators preferred consultation before fare adjustments, transport operators still needed to keep their vehicles running and continue servicing routes.

“The measures we are taking are to make sure that the prices are as low as possible,” he said.