Fuel challenges ground Zupco

FUEL shortages grounded most buses and commuter omnibuses under the Zupco franchise in Bulawayo on Friday, leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

A survey done by Southern Eye at pickup points in the city centre and residential areas established that many people were stranded with very few Zupco buses plying the routes.

Some residents were even seen walking to and from town with private motorists cashing in on the transport blues, with a normal trip of $4 costing an arm and leg.

Zupco has remained the sole public transport operator permitted to ferry commuters in the extended lockdown period.

“Scores of commuters from western areas were seen walking along Luveve and Khami roads to get to the central business district. Fuel shortages have been cited as the major cause of the transport blues faced by commuters this morning. The situation has sparked calls for the return of kombis amongst commuters; a move that will ease the burden on Zupco," civil society group Habbakuk Trust noted in a recent report.

Long winding queues have been the order of the day in the city’s pick-up points and in most western suburbs.

“Zupco buses are currently charging $4 a trip. Private vehicles were charging as much as between $25 and $50, an amount beyond many's reach given the prevailing economic situation. The disruption in service comes amidst concerns over the lack of social distancing at Zupco queues. Crowding at Zupco termini is a potential risk of the community spread of COVID-19,” the report.

“The government should, therefore, consider allowing other players in the transport sector to ease the burden on the overwhelmed Zupco company.”

Zupco southern division operations manager Tineyi Rwasoka said the transport situation would improve this week as the company had received 120 000 litres of fuel on Saturday.

"We are now in the process of fuelling our over 500 buses, as you know this is a process, but by Sunday things will have surely got back to normal,” Rwasoka said.

But observations along the city roads and pick-up points showed that commuters were still struggling to get transport yesterday.

Bulawayo City Council recently proposed that the government must allow private commuter omnibus operators to resume service and complement Zupco efforts.