Rudo Saungweme           

In a move that will stabilise the transport system in the country, President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday commissioned a consignment of ZUPCO buses from South Africa and China.

Speaking during the commissioning, President Mnangagwa said that the transport system was one of the issues he discussed during his visits in January to Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

“We are gathered to witness the development which those among you who may remember when I went away to visit Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in January. One of the issues I came back and stated to the nation was that we had arranged to acquire 500 buses from Belarus,” he said.

President Mnangagwa mentioned the violence that took place while he was away and said that the omnibus operators took advantage of that situation and hiked fares which affected the community of travellers.

President Mnangagwa also said Government decided to have a stable transport system to help those in urban and rural areas.

“We decided that it was necessary to have a stable transport system for those in the urban as well as the country side,” said the President.

President Mnangagwa said the arrangements made in Europe would take a bit longer so they had to make preliminary arrangements to bring 300 buses from South Africa and China.

 “The arrangement done in Europe will take longer so we decided to make preliminary arrangements which would bring about 300 buses, 200 from South Africa and 100 from China before the 500 coming from Europe. They began coming in the country some few days ago and on a daily basis, they are arriving. Some arrived yesterday some today and so on but we believe that before the month end, all the 300 will be in Harare. This consignment is now ready to be put into operation,” said the President.

Harare Post has learnt that omnibuses operators have been castigated by citizens for hiking fares at own will robbing them their hard earned cash.