Sunday Mail Reporter
Government is committed to protecting all vulnerable Zimbabweans through social safety nets that will leave no one behind, President Mnangagwa has said.
Speaking in Bulawayo on Friday where he commissioned 76 new buses, under the Zupco franchise, the President vowed to ensure that the public transport company’s bus fares would remain subsidised in order to cater for the poor.
“This programme attests to my Government’s commitment and determination to improve the quality of life of the ordinary people in line with our vision to become a middle-income society by 2030,” said President Mnangagwa.
“In this regard, we are determined to ensure that our developmental programmes leave no one behind.
“In line with my Government’s commitment to provide social safety nets for vulnerable groups and after the realisation that our commuting public has often fallen victim to unscrupulous operators who are charging exorbitant bus fares, we resolved to recapitalise Zupco.”
President Mnangagwa said Zupco buses were currently ferrying 300 000 commuters daily nationwide.
He said 300 kits for an additional buses were en route to Zimbabwe from Belarus and would be assembled locally.
“Some of the buses are from Belarus. Of the 500 coming from Belarus, 300, we have agreed, will come to Zimbabwe as knocked down kits to be assembled here locally, to provide employment,” said the President.
He added: “Today we are commissioning an additional 76 buses. As I speak, the delivery of the balance of the buses is ongoing. They are already over 76 because; others are on the road coming.
“The majority of the buses we are commissioning today will ply the rural areas in Matabeleland North and South provinces.”
The President said the subsidised transportation initiative should be seen as effort to facilitate economic activity within communities.
“These programmes must be collectively seen in the context of facilitating economic activity, industrial development, trade and access to services within our respective communities from the ward level upwards,” said President Mnangagwa.
The President said it was Government’s vision to establish an efficient, reliable, safe and affordable transport system.
The country, said the President, will have in excess of 1 500 subsidised buses brought from China, Belarus and South Africa soon.
He urged local authorities to rehabilitate and construct modern and complementary infrastructure such as bus termini, appropriate bus stops to ensure safety, timeliness, efficiency and convenience to the commuting public.
Acting Zupco chief executive officer Mr Evaristo Madangwa said they are offering affordable transport services in Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Mutare, Kwekwe, Gweru, Chinhoyi, Gokwe and recently in Chiredzi.
“We are set to reopen our Gwanda and Hwange depots and commence operations in those towns. These outlying depots will be our springboard for reaching out to remote rural areas,” he said.
“We have made significant progress in reopening other dormant depots like Karoi, Rusape and Kariba.
“The re-opening of these depots will result in total national coverage so that all Zimbabweans will benefit from this noble national programme.”
Zupco has also mobilised nearly 300 kombis to service suburban routes across the country, a development that has resulted in affordable fares for commuters.
The commuter omnibuses are charging $2 for a trip that is pegged at up to $5 by private commuter operators.
The public transporter says it is preparing to engage up to 1 000 commuter omnibuses to supplement its fleet of buses and minibuses.