Commuters in Harare were filled with anger today as the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company {ZUPCO} yesterday increased prices by 100%.
The continuous price hike of ZUPCO continue to affect the commuters negatively given the current situation where Zimbabwe is facing economic hardships as well as the Zimbabwean dollar which is continuing to lose value, making a lot of people finding it hard to cope with the current economic situation.
A commuter at Copacabana terminus, Mr JC Tsuro of Dzivarasekwa extension said the increase in ZUPCO fares was affecting them in this time when Zimbabwe is facing financial problems however hen suggested that the government partner with private companies as a way to ensure that they have sufficient funding for ZUPCO operations.
“The situation is hard we can’t do anything to change it we will try to copy with it but the government must shift from this monopoly policy in public transport sector, they should partner with private operators who can help them with financial support to avoid the continuous increase in transport fares,” he said.
Furthermore, another commuter of Kuwadzana 5 reiterated that ZUPCO being a mass public transport system with a motto of being safe, reliable and affordable it should not have doubled fares whilst insisting that even if the government increase the fleet of buses without addressing the prices it won’t change anything.
“We are suffering our salaries are not enough to pay higher amounts of bus fares so the increase is painful but we will remain resilient we have nothing to do but to cope with the situation however l don’t see any point of increasing ZUPCO buses if they are not affordable, like this transport problem will always persist in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Furthermore, another commuter who called himself Mr Jay B of Dzivarasekwa extension emphasized that although the ZUPCO bus fare increase was affecting them he was afraid of his life as they were at risk of contracting Covid-19 because of overpopulation at ranks due to shortage of buses.
“We are suffering we can’t afford the new prices and we are also afraid because we are at higher risk of contracting Covid-19 there is no sanitization at all and social distancing buses are few and our root is neglected because they say there are poor roads at our route,” fumed Jay B.
Meanwhile the old $30 fare routes, have doubled to $60 while the old $45 fare routes now cost $90.
The Zupco kombis, most of which were on shorter routes and charging $60 will now charge $80 although those that used to charge $90 routes will now charge $120.
Mushikashika, casual commercial drivers and pirate kombis have already been undercutting Zupco and frequently charging $50 during midday and $60 at peak hours. These illegal services tend to concentrate on shorter and medium routes.
As part of improving transport challenges, the government is buying 667 buses from China by year-end, with the delivery of the first batch of 100 buses expected soon but the continuous price increase of ZUPCO will not improve but worsen the transport situation which the country is currently facing.
