News / Local
Weak Rand pushes commuter fares
12 Feb 2014 at 05:51hrs | Views
Commuter omnibus operators in Bulawayo have raised fares by 20% with effect from today as the Rand remains weak against the United States dollar.
Fares have gone up to R6, up from R5 per trip.
The Bulawayo Public Transporters Association (BUPTA) and Tshova Mubaiwa yesterday maintained that their fare was still $0,50 as stipulated by government in 2009 and that the increase was merely to ensure that they did not lose out.
"Our fares are still $0,50 or $1 for two. We just realigned our exchange rate to the current rate of $1 being equivalent to R12 because what it means now is that R5 is equivalent to $0,40," said Bupta secretary-general, Albert Ncube.
Tshova Mubaiwa Commuter Omnibus Operators' Association chairperson Samson Mabunda said his association had also decided to cross rate the rand at $1 to R12 because the rand had lost value against the dollar.
However, the Pumula Buses Association (PBA), which is largely comprised of bigger commuter vehicles like coasters and buses plying the Emganwini, Pumula and Cowdray Park suburbs, said its fare would remain at R3 from western suburbs to town, and R4 for the return trip as they empathised with commuters.
"We will still charge the same fare of R3 into town and R4 to western areas," said the BPA secretary-general, Ambrose Sibanda.
Fares have gone up to R6, up from R5 per trip.
The Bulawayo Public Transporters Association (BUPTA) and Tshova Mubaiwa yesterday maintained that their fare was still $0,50 as stipulated by government in 2009 and that the increase was merely to ensure that they did not lose out.
Tshova Mubaiwa Commuter Omnibus Operators' Association chairperson Samson Mabunda said his association had also decided to cross rate the rand at $1 to R12 because the rand had lost value against the dollar.
However, the Pumula Buses Association (PBA), which is largely comprised of bigger commuter vehicles like coasters and buses plying the Emganwini, Pumula and Cowdray Park suburbs, said its fare would remain at R3 from western suburbs to town, and R4 for the return trip as they empathised with commuters.
"We will still charge the same fare of R3 into town and R4 to western areas," said the BPA secretary-general, Ambrose Sibanda.
Source - zimmail
