News / National
Demand for Zupco up
22 May 2019 at 23:21hrs | Views
Demand for Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) buses has spiked and the public transport operator is set to take delivery of 300 more coaches in a major leap for the country's mass transport system.
Commuter operators are charging exorbitant prices ranging from $2 to $5 which is beyond the reach of many, forcing Government to intervene through introducing a mass transport system to cushion the public.
Zupco is charging 50 cents in Harare and 75 cents from Harare to Chitungwiza, with about 15 buses that have been allocated to the province struggling to cope with demand.
Zupco acting chief executive Mr Everisto Madangwa said they were currently overwhelmed.
"Currently, Zupco is operating 260 buses countrywide including those from the private players. We are putting frantic efforts to manage the situation. Definitely we will be able to meet demand.
"Currently, I am on the ground monitoring the situation. Passengers are preferring our buses due to our competitive prices," said Mr Madangwa.
"I'm not looking at the actual figures at the moment, but roughly four or five buses have been allocated to Bulawayo, two to Gweru, one bus to Kwekwe and another to Masvingo. Due to the fact that Harare is a big city, about 14 or 15 buses have been allocated to service its routes."
He said the bus company was still working to ensure that all urban routes had buses, as some suburbs are still to benefit from the service.
"We understand that some suburbs still do not have Zupco buses servicing their routes, however, we urge members of the public to remain patient as we are dealing with logistics and increasing our capacity," said Mr Madangwa.
Mr Mandangwa said they would continue improving on their e-ticketing system which has so far proved to be convenient to passengers and plans were underway to open e-ticketing kiosks for the convenience of the public.
Commuter operators are charging exorbitant prices ranging from $2 to $5 which is beyond the reach of many, forcing Government to intervene through introducing a mass transport system to cushion the public.
Zupco is charging 50 cents in Harare and 75 cents from Harare to Chitungwiza, with about 15 buses that have been allocated to the province struggling to cope with demand.
Zupco acting chief executive Mr Everisto Madangwa said they were currently overwhelmed.
"Currently, Zupco is operating 260 buses countrywide including those from the private players. We are putting frantic efforts to manage the situation. Definitely we will be able to meet demand.
"I'm not looking at the actual figures at the moment, but roughly four or five buses have been allocated to Bulawayo, two to Gweru, one bus to Kwekwe and another to Masvingo. Due to the fact that Harare is a big city, about 14 or 15 buses have been allocated to service its routes."
He said the bus company was still working to ensure that all urban routes had buses, as some suburbs are still to benefit from the service.
"We understand that some suburbs still do not have Zupco buses servicing their routes, however, we urge members of the public to remain patient as we are dealing with logistics and increasing our capacity," said Mr Madangwa.
Mr Mandangwa said they would continue improving on their e-ticketing system which has so far proved to be convenient to passengers and plans were underway to open e-ticketing kiosks for the convenience of the public.
Source - the herald
