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Walter Nyamukondiwa Kariba Bureau

ZUPCO has started distributing buses that were commissioned by President Mnangagwa recently in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West Province, with Kariba getting two.

This takes the total number of buses in the resort town to four with moves underway to rope in more contracted kombis to join the fleet to facilitate local travel.

The conventional buses are expected to eventually service the intercity routes when the lockdown restrictions are lifted.

President Mnangagwa commissioned 40 buses in Chinhoyi last month with Mashonaland West Province getting 21 buses, which are now being distributed in the province.

Hurungwe District is expected to get five buses to service the vast district including the recently tarred Karoi-Zvipani Road.

Excitement and jubilation was palpable when the fleet of buses was paraded in Kariba’s suburbs starting in Nyamhunga, Mahombekombe and Heights.

There was singing and ululation as people followed the procession of buses in the first handover in the province since the commissioning of the buses.

Zupco northern division operations manager Mr Tito Chirau said distribution of the buses had started with Kariba and would continue until all the areas in Mashonaland West Province were covered.

“On the 12th of June in Chinhoyi, His Excellency President Mnangagwa commissioned some 40 buses and specifically instructed that 21 of them should remain in Mashonaland West.

“True to his word, we are delivering the buses and we are starting with Kariba where we are leaving two more buses to add to the two they already have. From here we are moving to Karoi until every area in the province is covered,” said Mr Chirau.

He said Zupco had invited kombi operators to join the franchise and service local routes with plans to enlist about 10 kombis.

Kariba resident Mr Samu Mawawo hailed the move to bring in more Zupco buses saying it would help ensure safe travel for people in the wildlife infected area.

“Apart from ensuring that residents get cheaper and reliable transport, the development helps reduce encounters with wild animals given that Kariba suburbs are far from each other with bushes in between,” said Mr Mawawo.

Resuscitation of Zupco is viewed as a key ingredient in the devolution policy implementation where Mashonaland West Province is equally benefitting from national resources.

The development is aimed at having a robust, efficient and affordable public transport system with Government engaging countries such as Belarus and China to procure more buses for Zupco.