Christopher Makaza
ZANU PF youths from Zvimba district have applauded Government`s Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) buses facility in urban areas meant to cushion the struggling workers, calling upon responsible authorities to avail the same facility to the rural populace which is equally affected by the overpriced fares.
This was raised during a ZANU PF youth meeting held in Mutorashanga, Zvimba North constituency during the weekend.
“Although we don`t live in Harare or Bulawayo or any other urban areas where ZUPCO buses are plying, we really appreciate the ZUPCO buses facility introduced by the Government to cushion especially the urban workers from exorbitant bus fares being charged by unscrupulous transport operators. We plead with the responsible authorities to also consider the rural electorate which is equally affected,” said Prudence Gurwe, one of the youths.
Last month President Emmerson Mnangagwa commissioned 28 out of 800 busses that were ordered by Government to ZUPCO which have since started plying different routes in Harare at very affordable prices. Speaking during the commissioning of the buses, President Mnangagwa said Government would continue to work round the clock to ensure that transport challenges were addressed.
“These challenges of public transport will now be a thing of the past. Government will ensure that more buses come in and ease these challenges especially in urban areas where commuter Omnibus operators were causing untold suffering to the people by wantonly hiking their fares,” he said.
Addressing thousands of Zanu PF supporters at Mt Darwin High School in Mashonaland Central Province some few weeks ago, Vice President Kembo Mohadi slammed long distance transport operators for charging unaffordable and unrealistic fares highlighting that the rural community will soon benefit from the ZUPCO facility.
“We are happy to announce that government has intervened to assist the rural electorate with buses which charge reasonable and affordable fares. Like the urban community, the rural areas will also soon receive ZUPCO buses which are reliable and affordable. Government is in the process of resuscitating ZUPCO and soon transport challenges will be a thing of the past.
