Govt invites private kombis to join Zupco franchise

GOVERNMENT’s public bus company, Zupco has invited private operators to join its franchise after becoming overwhelmed when companies reopened after a lockdown last week.

Desperate commuters have been forced to queue for hours on end as the Zupco buses have been overwhelmed by demand.

Government only mandated Zupco to provide public transport services during the lockdown period despite easing restrictions last week, but transport shortages have ensued with thousands of workers stranded at the end of the day.

“The Zupco is inviting private omnibus operators to join its franchise arrangement to transport passengers within the urban operations. Operators to bring their own omnibuses with their own drivers meeting the following requirements,” Zupco said in a statement on Sunday, advising the transport operators to also bring vehicle certificates of fitness, passenger and vehicle insurance.

Late last year, the government also reached out to private commuter omnibus operators to join its franchise to bring relief to commuters who were faced with rising transport costs.

A member of the Bulawayo’s Tshova Mubaiwa group of private commuter omnibuses, Ndabazabantu Mabunda, said they were yet to meet as transport operators to deliberate over Zupco’s latest offer.

“We have to meet as members to discuss the offer. However, commuter omnibus operators have been affected by COVID-19 just like any business and it is our hope that this offer will bring relief to our members,” Mabunda said yesterday.

Government has purchased hundreds of buses to revive the faltering public transporter, which requires as much as 1 500 buses more to meet demand.