Commuters have criticized the government on the recent $ 2 000 fine which was issued by the government yesterday which will be paid by commuters who use illegal transportation.
Kombis, private cars and buses that are not registered with the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company {ZUPCO} are not allowed to be used as public transport by the police as the law enforcement agents suspects that they don’t abide to Covid-19 preventive measures.
However parents have argued that ZUPCO which is a regularized public transportation in Zimbabwe is also a time bomb for the spread of Covid-19 as commuters spend a lot of time queueing at ranks for the buses which are not enough to sustain the demands of the commuters.
Parents who spoke to this publication reviewed how they felt about the 2000 fine for using unregistered transportation.
One parent who spoke on condition of anonymity argued that it is not possible to board Zupco transport since they are few.
“We don’t have leaders we have rulers so the rule of law according to them is going to be enforced no matter we like it or not that is going to have a negative impact on us as citizens.
“How can we queue for Zupcos when there is corona, social distancing is required of which we have fewer busses and kombis,” he said.
He went on to say that in some places such as rural areas there are no Zupco buses and kombi.
“There are some places where you will not find Zupco or kombies, people should choose the type of transport they want to use.
“We all know that the cost of boarding a Zupco is affordable so if people don’t choose to use it for transport its their own choice, they would not want to be standing in those long queues till midnight,” he added.
Mr Shumbanyama a concerned citizen argued that the government created mshikashika therefore should bring better transportation for people if mshikashika is to go.
“This decision deserves condemnation, government banned kombis and brought ramshackled buses under Zupco which aren’t enough to carry people .
“They are now punishing people for using mshikashika, what do they want people to do, “he said.
The government said if travelers fail to use registered transport under Zupco franchise they will be charged for contravening section 7 (2) as read with 49 (2) of The Road Traffic (Traffic Signs and Signal ) Regulations of 2016,which is, “Failure to obey any instruction or control imposed by any regulatory signs as specified under such signs as specified under such sign in class (1) (a) (i) in the first schedule eg, no hitch hiking, stop sign, be stopping, no overtaking weight prohibition, no parking, no right /left turn, etc.