Commuters welcome Zupco fare cut

PASSENGERS yesterday hailed the Government for reducing Zupco urban fares doubled a fortnight ago.

The new fares while higher than June fares are about two thirds of what Zupco imposed at the beginning of the month giving an effective rise of about a third for long buses.

Zupco kombis, which until this month were charging double the long buses, also saw their fares cut and these are now around what they were allowed to charge last month before the new fares.

Government reduced the fares while also putting in place a raft of mechanisms to make sure the mass public transport system is Covid-19 sensitive.

For the long conventional buses, the fare up to 20km was cut from $60 to $40.

For 21km to 30km it was cut from $90 to $60 and from 31km to 40km it was cut from $110 to $80.

Commuter omnibuses under the Zupco franchise will now charge about one-and-a-half times what the long buses charge, $60 up to 20km down from $80 and $80 down from $120 for 21km to 30km.

The Local Government and Public Works Ministry announced the review on Wednesday night.

“Government has today reduced the fares of Zupco buses to guarantee affordability for commuters. Also a raft of measures has been put in place to make sure that the mass transit system under the Zupco franchise is Covid-19 sensitive,” he said.

Passengers Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Tafadzwa Goliath yesterday thanked the Government for listening to pleas for the reduction of fares.

“When Zupco hiked the fares we complained that they were beyond the reach of passengers especially during this lockdown period.

“We then pleaded with the Government for a downward review and we welcome the stance to reduce the fees because the Government and the President have listened to us,” he said.

Mr Goliath said they would continue to engage the Government to ensure that the welfare of passengers improved, especially in urban areas where many people need to commute to work daily and some need to use two buses in each direction.