Joram Gumbo in CMED scandal

Transport Minister Joram Gumbo has reportedly ordered mechanics at Gwanda CMED workshop to be on 24 hour standby in readiness to attend to his JMP Express bus breakdowns.

The bus, said to be an old Leyland model plies the Gwanda - Mberengwa route.

It frequently breaks down along the way, sometimes up to three times on a single trip, several insiders claim.

Mechanics have to keep track of its movement and make speedy repairs.

Mechanics at the workshop told Bulawayo24.com that at times they are forced to remove spares from government vehicles in order to fix Gumbo's bus.

Bulawayo24.com could not immediately verify further claims that the bus 'draws fuel and oil from the government depot using government official fuel coupons'.

"The Minister recently forced VID officials to impound all public transport vehicles plying the route in order to eliminate competition for his sikorokoro bus.

"The bus charges the lowest charges on the route in a bid to out compete other operators" said a source familiar with developments at the Gwanda depot.