Staff Reporter

The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO)`s latest batch of 115 new buses imported from China yesterday arrived at Beitbridge border post awaiting clearance, as Government continues to fight public transport challenges and bring sanity to the country`s roads.

So far the Government has imported more than 1000 buses from China and Belarus in the last three years and the latest arrival will see ZUPCO surpass the 50 percent mark of the buses that it requires to efficiently service both rural and urban areas.

The latest batch of Golden Dragon buses was imported via Durban in South Africa, before being driven to Beitbridge.

Late yesterday the 115 buses were still parked at Gateway truck stop on the South African side of the border pending the finalisation of the clearance process.

An official at the border revealed that the buses are expected to cross into Zimbabwe between Monday and Tuesday.

“These are being cleared using the pre clearance facility to ensure that when they arrive on our side of the border, they are only checked for compliance before proceeding to the main depot in Harare,” he said.

The official said the buses will be cleared in batches of between 10 and 15 to avoid clogging the border.

Zupco`s acting Chief Executive, Mr Everisto Madangwa, last week said the Government last year imported a total 349 buses from China to boost the company`s fleet.

“We have received a total of 349 buses imported by the Government excluding those that were given to the Public Service Commission (PSC).

These buses have been dispatched to all the 10 provinces where they are operating and we are expecting more buses this year.

The development follows the arrival of another 90 buses imported via the same route in November last year.

Before the Second Republic came into office, ZUPCO was close to defunct, now the company has capacity to provide 50 percent of the public transport system a clear testimony of the strides that the New Dispensation has made.