Crisis Coalition to stage demo against transport shortages

By Staff Writer

CRISIS in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) has set Friday May 6 2022 as a day to stage a protest against the government’s induced current transport crisis bedevilling the country.

The developments come against a background where cabinet  ministers have not taken any immediate decisive action to curb the arrest and seizure of privately operated motor vehiocles which had since eased the transport shortage from the time commuter omnibuses were banned.    

In a statement CiZC vowed to stands firmly behind calls for a public protest against failure by the government to come up with a proper public transportation system.

“On Friday, May 6, 2022 aggrieved Zimbabweans will march against the continued shortage of public transport especially in urban areas.

“This trend has resulted in commuters being charged exorbitant fares as some unregistered private players capitalize on the desperation among commuters while a lot of productive time is being wasted in long queues.

“We note with concern the failure by the government to resuscitate the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) and provide an efficient and reliable public transport system,” said Mutasa.

The coalition said in 2021, ZUPCO announced the procurement of 464 ZUPCO buses and it was also announced that a further 1 000 buses will be imported this year.

“However, the crisis on the ground has removed doubts that claims of the government procuring the 1 000 buses could be part of a propaganda scheme to mislead the public.

“The government’s continued monopolization of the public transport system and failure to effectively resuscitate ZUPCO has worsened the plight of commuters in most urban areas in Zimbabwe.

“ It has to be noted that ZUPCO is among the parastatals that continue to suffer from corruption and mismanagement,” said CiZC.

The coalition noted that statistics from the Greater Harare Association of Commuter Omnibuses indicate that before March 2020, around 50 000 commuter omnibuses were operating in the country but following the move by the government to ban private transporters, the number reduced to 1 500 and this is also contributing to the plight of urban commuters.

“We join the commuting public in demanding proper resuscitation of the public transport system in Zimbabwe.

“The government must end its monopoly and allow registered private players into the public transport system,” added CiZC.