Chronicle Editor
Vusumuzi Dube, Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) has increased fares for urban routes by 100 percent with immediate effect.
According to the new fare structure, passengers will now pay $16 per trip for Zupco buses up from $8 while Zupco kombis are now charging $32 up from $16. The new fares became effective yesterday.
In an interview yesterday, Zupco chief executive officer Mr Everisto Madangwa said the new fares were a cost containment measure by the company.
He said they were further looking at improving service delivery so as to ensure that their fleet was reliable on the road to carry out their mandate of transporting the travelling public.
“We increased our fares as of Saturday (yesterday) by 100 percent this is basically a cost containment measure so that we are able to keep our fleet on the road,” said Mr Madangwa.
According to the national lockdown regulations, Zupco registered buses and kombis are the only ones allowed to offer public transport in the urban areas.
Mr Madangwa further called on owners of buses and commuter omnibuses who wanted to franchise their vehicles with the passenger company to do so as they were working on a project to gradually increase their fleet.
The company has about 500 buses and kombis plying Bulawayo urban routes.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter