Some kombi operators have welcomed a deal offered by the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) to work under the transport utility franchise.
Hardlife Chipika of Pamushana Africa Transport, one of those who are part of the pilot project, said the deal will his company’s operations. He said:
The coming in of Government will result in us reducing our operational expenses as fuel will be provided.
The model to me will reduce wear and tear given that the kombis will be timetabled and no running ‘diff’ (empty trips) as was the case and other operational expenses like paying touts as well as running battles with municipal police.
ZUPCO buses charge a fraction of transport fares being demanded by private players as the latter have to constantly adjust to the weekly fuel price increases.
The ZUPCO kombis will augment the number of existing buses which have become inadequate to cater to hundreds of thousands of commuters who can no longer afford the ever-increasing transport costs.
This Zupco thing is just to provide transport to workers to go to their stations of slavery. You go to work on an empty stomach and do your community service hungry then Zupco will come and take you back home with kids waiting for something for supper and bread for tommorow mrng which you cant afford. This is just slavery providing buses in the guise of assisting the public when you just arverting a stay away and the dunderheads celebrate that gvt cares. We are gullible we Zimbabweans we cant look at a bigger picture we have allowed ourselves to be held in bondage by a few selfish individuals.
The burning question is: how many of the Kombi drivers have a Class 1 licence?
and how long will lose making scheme last?