Unpaid ZUPCO drivers seize buses

Drivers at the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) who have reportedly gone for more than 24 months without salaries are holding onto buses allocated to them and using them to generate income for their basic needs.

According to sources cited by the Masvingo Mirror, some drivers are refusing to surrender the buses, choosing instead to keep and sleep in them while personally paying for fuel, spare parts and repairs to keep the vehicles operating.

The drivers reportedly fear that if the buses are returned to company depots for repairs, they could remain there for months because of ZUPCO's financial difficulties — or may never be released back to them.

There are also concerns that buses left at the depots could be stripped of valuable parts.

The reported crisis comes as ZUPCO's workforce has shrunk dramatically, with the company now employing about 1,500 workers, down from a peak of around 7,000 employees several years ago.

About 2,000 former workers have reportedly taken ZUPCO to court over unpaid salaries. Most are said to have secured default judgments, resulting in company property, including buses, being attached to recover the outstanding debts.

The company's fleet has also reportedly deteriorated. Of the 500 buses procured between 2019 and 2022, only about 150 are said to remain operational, with almost all reportedly considered unroadworthy.

Sources further claimed that only 10 of the buses are registered and have number plates, raising serious concerns about passenger safety and compliance with road regulations.

Efforts by the Masvingo Mirror to obtain comment from ZUPCO management were unsuccessful.

The company's Operations Director and Acting Chief Executive, Linda Samundere, reportedly ended a call after being informed that a journalist wanted her response to the issues raised. Subsequent calls were not answered.

ZUPCO Board Chairman Jamster Chimiga referred questions to the company's public relations department, which could not be reached for comment by the time of publication.

Workers' Committee Chairman Jameson Matapo also declined to comment, saying he was not authorised to discuss company matters with the media.

“The law does not allow me to discuss company issues and besides I do not know you," Matapo was quoted as saying.

The reports paint a picture of a company facing severe financial and operational challenges, with prolonged salary arrears, legal claims, a shrinking workforce and a deteriorating bus fleet placing further pressure on its ability to provide reliable and safe public transport.