Staff Reporter

Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) has with immediate effect reviewed downwards bus fares and redeployed all inter city buses to service the urban routes to ease congestion.

In a statement yesterday, ZUPCO said the deployment of more buses to cater for urban commuters as well as the slashing of fares was meant to reduce congestion as well as eliminating illegal transport modes that were plying the urban routes.

“Following the announcement by His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe Cde E.D Mnangagwa on new lockdown measures and in discussion with the Minister of Local Government and Public Works Honourable July Moyo, the below indicated measures to reduce congestion in urban centres and eliminate illegal transport modes have been put in place. This is with immediate effect. All intercity buses will be redeployed to urban operations to increase carrying capacity and efficiency,” reads the statement.

ZUPCO also announced that a distance of below 20 kilometres would now cost ZWL$40.00 and ZWL$60.00 for buses and omnibuses respectively. A distance of over 20 kilometres to 30 kilometres would be charged ZWL$60.00 and ZWL$80.00 for buses and omnibuses respectively. The public transporter further said it would operate under curfew guidelines and the buses would be deployed as per scheduled time table.

On 1 July 2021, ZUPCO increased its fares by 33.3 percent and 100 percent for kombis and buses respectively. The development saw people living within a radius of zero to 20 kilometers from the Central Business District (CBD) paying ZWL$60.00 for buses and ZWL$80.00 for kombis. Commuters living in areas such as Norton, Ruwa and Chitungwiza were now paying ZWL$90 when travelling by ZUPCO buses and those travelling using ZUPCO kombis were being charged ZWL$120.00.

In a bid to assist travelers, ZUPCO this year introduced inter-city buses to ease the high transport costs confronting long distance travelers. The company has a vision of developing an integrated and multi-model urban transport system which shall be plying rural, inter-city, cross-border and intra city journeys.

Despite the fare increase, ZUPCO buses remain the most affordable means of transport considering that private transport operators are charging up to US$3 from Harare CBD to Chitungwiza, Ruwa and Norton.