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The country’s biggest opposition party MDC Alliance has slammed the recent 100% fare increase by state owned Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) saying it is eroding the current salaries of citizens.
An average fare is now pegged at ZWL$48 ,which translate to more than USD $0.50 using the official exchange rate.
The Alliance noted that such an increase comes against the back drop were salaries have not been reviewed with the government ignoring civil servants demands for salary increments , while they depend on ZUPCO for transpiration.
In a statement on Monday MDC Alliance National Secretary for transport and logistics Hon. Settlement Chikwinya said , “ The ZUPCO fare increase will erode their already meagre earnings. Additionally, private commuter operators have been banned ostensibly under the guise of the lockdown regulations.”
Government banned private kombis under lockdown regulations ,living ZUPCO buses as the sole transport , however the buses have been failing to meet the transportation demands forcing people to stand in ques for long hours.
MDC Alliance demand that government allows registered kombis to operate and do away with the barriers prohibiting them from operating.
“The MDC Alliance demands that in line with lockdown measures that are being relaxed across sectors, the transport sector be opened and registered commuter operators are allowed to operate, albeit observing WHO Regulations to safeguard the public against Covid19.”
Commuters across the country have been left stranded and subjected to long ques due to the transport crisis.
The ZUPCO monopoly have been failing to capacitate ferrying passengers across cities.
Whilst the ban on private kombis has given rise to private car operators this has created another dire situation for commuters who are being exorbitant prices.
Government made a return of ZUPCO buses in January 2019 , whilst charging as little as ZWL$1.50 , over the past months fares has been increasing.
However, salaries have not been reviewed failing to capacitate transport rising costs.
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