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By Calvin Manika
Last week the sole public transporter, ZUPCO increased the bus fares without a public notice as required by the law and passengers are concerned with the motive in the increment with the majority saying the move is unjustified.
In a press statement, the Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) unwelcomed the decision of the government backed transporter saying the increase is ill-timed.
“The PAZ has been tasked to engage the releavent authorities. The commuting public have felt the impact of the recently increased ZUPCO fares.While ZUPCO did not consult with the public in the increase. We are therefore requesting a reversal of the decision to increase the fare. As a direct result of these fare increase the USD rate on the Pararell market has also moved in sync with the fares. This was a direct result of the fare increase by ZUPCO.”
“The Ministry of Finance, has been on the record been providing resources for subsidized fuel to ZUPCO so that fares remaining low to the ordinary Zimbabwean. We are of the assumption that it might also need to clear the air on the support it is providing to ZUPCO,” says the statement.
ZUPCO has been enjoying a monopoly in the transport industry since March 2020 when the country introduced it’s first lockdown. Since then ZUPCO has been alone in intra city routes with no hope of the returning of private players popularly known as ‘kombis’. However, the sole public transporter has been battling to service the intra city routes leaving most of the time commuters stranded.
Speaking to Spiked Online Media, the PAZ secretary general Tafadzwa Goliati said the increase of bus fares add to the bulk of challenges commuters are already faced with from ZUPCO.
“It is relatively important to note that as an association of passengers we are willing to engage on fare increase. The fare increment is coming again to crash what people are earning. No meaningful salary adjustments have been by the government and the private sector to their employees. People are still trying to make their way through from the recent foodstuffs price increases and another whip comes on their backs,” said Goliati.
“We acknowledge what the ministry of finance is doing to subsidize fuel for the transport giant. The finance department must come clear on whether it has ceased to offer a hand to the transport giant. This is one grey area which needs an explanation, so that the passengers know the than to groan in their agony but have no one to talk to about their issues” continued Goliati.
Tafadzwa Murau, a Chitungwiza resident said the increase of fares has come at a time people are struggling to make ends meet.
“We have been affected by lockdowns for too long. We are trying to run around and find our feet, if which in our informal economy we are forced to travel in and out of town. But, with these fares it will be painful on our side,” said Murau.
“It is not only ZUPCO facing challenges. The passengers themselves are cash strapped. The current increment is therefore, unjustified as long as the justifications are based on costs of running the services. Where should the people take the money, while they are immersed in the same financial doldrums as the operator,” said PAZ in a statement.
Another passenger expressed displeasure in the way bus fares were increased.
“I almost failed to take my journey because I learned of the increase while I was about to pay for my ticket. I never heard or saw the public notice. Moreover, the increase do not commensurate with reality. I ended up forfeiting my lunch to pay the fare,” said Dumisani Ncube.
Passengers Association of Zimbabwe said the ministry of local government must also shun making imperical decisions which jeopardize security statuses of a lot of families by allowing ZUPCO to unliterary hike fares overnight.
“Fares should not just shoot up like blood pressure. The public need to be informed well in advance prior to events to unfold. State provided transport is the way to go as guided by the standing statutory, therefore it’s operations should be clear, open for scrutiny and include stakeholders in main issues like this one on fares,” Goliati added.
