By Chengeto Chidi
The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) has hiked bus fares for peri-urban routes.
A memorandum intended to reach all crews signed by Belvedere Depot Manager Tito Chirau on 3 November read that they are increasing the fare from 4 November 2022
“You are being advised to revert to the gazetted fare of ZWL$800 on all peri-urban routes with effect from 04 November 2022,” it read.
Various commuter omnibus operators under other associations have been instructing commuters to add a certain amount when commuting to equate with the unofficial bank rate which they peg at ZWL700 or ZWL800.
ZUPCO also shared that there would be no additional amounts that were going to be paid by the passengers
“For passengers willing to pay in US$, crews are urged to accept US$1.00 for a journey without any extra charge having to be passed on to the passenger to avoid fare distortions, passengers paying in US$ should be given a ticket matching the ZWL$800.00,” the memo read.
Of late there have been complaints from commuters that they sometimes got stranded at ranks as buses would be off to refuel at the same time.
Now ZUPCO drivers are also expected to purchase their own fuel from the memo issued
“Having noted the above, you are now mandated to buy your own fuel with effect from the 10th of November as all highway buses are doing,” the memo also read.
The official exchange rate currently sits at about US$1: ZWL$635 while ZUPCO is now adoption the black market rate and citizens fear thus might even affect the rate.
The decisions has sparked an outcry among the commuters who are saying it they are adopting the street rate not the official bank rate
“Why is ZUPCO charging in the black market rate, we get paid by the Government at the official interbank rate, they are stealing from us and this might even make the mushika-shika operators hike their fares too,” a local primary school teacher in Waterfalls commented.
Others have complained that they have no option but to resort to illegal transport operators tp get ferried to and from their destinations quickly and Harare City Council and the Zimbabwe Republic Police have been trying to ban these illegal operators.