Zupco buys 50 buses

Nyemudzai Kakore Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company has acquired 50 buses to boost its service delivery which has declined over the years.

This brings the number of Zupco buses plying local and regional routes to 350.

Spokesperson and marketing manager Mr Farai Runyowa said the development would help turnaround the fortunes of the State-owned entity.

The acquisition of the new coaches is part of the company’s five-year medium-term plan, adopted in 2011, which targets the importation of at least 100 buses per year.

“We have brought in 50 buses from China, which will be servicing rural routes, but plans are at an advanced stage for Zupco to ply the urban routes which will decongest the city,” he said.

“Getting this fleet means we are able to increase frequencies and improve our presence.”

Mr Runyowa welcomed the decline in fuel prices, saying this would result in the reduction of fares while also growing savings.

Zupco is using its internal resources to buy the buses from First Automative Works of China. Mr Runyowa refused to disclose the cost of acquiring the buses.

He said plans were afoot to improve the urban transport system by re-introducing intra-urban routes.

He said Zupco had initiated a female driving programme which will see 10 women being employed as drivers of the new coaches.

Over the years, Zupco has been hard hit by financial challenges and has struggled to pay workers and packages to its 300 former employees retrenched in 2011.

Last year the company’s chief executive Mr Brian Chawasarira resigned over allegations of gross mismanagement.

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