by Rungano Dzikira

The resumption of Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) among other long bus players to ply town routes has arm-twisted commuter omnibus operators to reduce transport fares to as little as $1 from the exorbitant $3 - $5 which had since rocked the industry since last week.

Government’s move to launch the Urban Mass Transport System, has been welcomed by many especially workers who bear the burden of travelling to and from work each day.

“It was becoming unsustainable to get into town and go to work every day and we had no idea how we were going to manage till things normalise. Most of us actually had to rely on hiking private vehicles,” said Mr Tavonga Gwenzi of Chitungwiza.

In an interview at Copper Cabana rank in Harare, commuter operators expressed dismay at this new development which they claimed was now driving them out of business.

“This is a painful bitter pill which we have to swallow as commuter operators if we intend to remain in business because we are now faced with fierce competition from these buses that have invaded our routes,” said Mr Jacob Muramba, a kombi driver.

Indications on the ground suggest that other towns are equally following suit as stiff competition from these long buses are slowly stifling their operations.

Bulawayo has been reported to have since introduced a commuter train charging $0,50 , a decision which has been greatly welcomed by the Bulawayo commuting public.

The last week hike in fuel prices saw commuter operators charging up to $5 for local trips in most towns, and the latest Government intervention has been welcomed for easing the transport burden on the commuting public.