The ManicaPost
Daniel Mhonda and Gabrielle Gede Post Correspondents
“We hope that we will be able to do away with the greedy kombi operators who are bent on fleecing the public.”
RESIDENTS in Mutare have welcomed Government’s introduction of the Urban Mass Transport System which has seen the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) and other private players providing buses to cushion commuters against outrageous fares that were now being charged by kombi operators in urban areas.
At the peak of transport fares madness, kombi operators were charging $5 for a trip to Dangamvura high density suburb while commuters in Chikanga and surrounding areas were now being asked to fork out $3 for a trip to the Central Business District (CBD).
However, some private players in the transport industry in Mutare such as Mupfumi, Mwayera and Matsatse bus companies provided busses that are charging $1 for a trip from Dangamvura to town.
A survey by The Manica Post this week showed that people have high expectations that the system implemented in Harare recently would also be implemented in Mutare to address the transport challenges that commuters are facing.
Emmanuel Nyakudya (29) from Greenside said: “We appreciate the intervention by Government in arranging with private players in Harare and implementing measures to address the transport challenges commuters have been facing.This has been long overdue in as far as restoring sanity in the transport sector is concerned.”
Another commuter Euliter Mashaka of Sakubva (48) said: “In Manicaland we are curiously waiting for the same intervention from Government as they have done in Harare. We have suffered enough.
“For some of us, it now seems that all our salaries are going towards bus fare. It is just the beginning of the year and if things remain like this we will not see any development in our live and families.”
Tsikanditsike Maunze (64) had this to say: “We want the same relief for public commuters from the exorbitant fares that were now being charged by commuter omnibuses. They are not justified so why should they treat us with such disrespect.”
Evermore Makururu, who lives just about three kilometres from the CBD and is parting with $1,50 for a trip, said the fare was not justified even with the fuel price increases.
“We need Government to speed up this programme so that we can be able to afford going to work. So far, we have been getting assistance from Mupfumi Bus Company which has put several buses on the roads. However, during weekends we still have to pay the exorbitant fares since the busses do not operate during weekends. If we have more buses, they will be able to service other areas that are not covered by Mupfumi buses.”
Mr Tavengwa Muhlahla of Chikanga said: “If Government is to intervene and assist, we want the programme to be an ongoing, not the one that comes and two weeks down the line we are left because of the transport fare madness.”
Mutare public transport operator and Zanu PF Central Committee member Cde Isau Mupfumi confirmed that the Urban Mass Transport System will be launched in Mutare soon.
“It is a noble move that Government intervened in Harare. You cannot just leave the public transport system in the hands of private players just like we had done. Countries like Kenya and South Africa have also come to the same realisation. These private players are only there to fleece members of the public.
“I have just spoken with the Deputy Minister of Transport Hounarable Fortune Chasi and he said they will be coming down in Mutare towards the weekend or early next week to launch the same programme like the one in Harare. It is not new to us here in Mutare because we are the pioneers of this programme after we were confronted with a similar situation some time back.
Cde Mupfumi criticised private kombi operators for unjustifiably overcharging the commuting public
“I strongly believe that even the $1 fee that appears reasonable right now is actually on the higher side considering the salaries that people are earning. 50 cents would be ideal but that can only happen if Government then hires buses from private operators like they are doing in Harare.
“In fact, I am happy that fellow transport operators here in Mutare like Matsatse, Mwayera and Tenda are willing to help the people. We hope that we will be able to do away with the greedy kombi operators who are bent on fleecing the public,” said Cde Mupfumi.
