Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday directed the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to ensure that only designated transport operators such as the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) continue to be the provider of public transport.
Mnangagwa denounced private transport operators for abusing Government’s empowerment initiatives extended to them over the years through unscrupulous behaviour.
Speaking in Harare yesterday at the commissioning of 50 more ZUPCO buses that will see the public utility’s new fleet rising to 212, Mnangagwa said:
Over the years, our transport sector has been opened to private players as an empowerment initiative.
This has, however, presented pertinent and unique challenges. Our commuting public has often been subjected to poor services, unsafe travel and unsustainable fare structures.
Going forward, I urge players in the public transport sector to give due regard to safety, orderliness and good customer care within the sector, towards quality service delivery.
In this regard, the Zimbabwe Republic Police must continue to enforce Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 with regards to urban transport service provision.
Clause Two of SI 83 of 2020 says the provision of transport services shall be restricted to ZUPCO, government departments and security services. It reads:
Transport services, whether intracity or intercity, for the carriage of passengers shall be restricted to those provided by — (a) the parastatal company known as the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco); (b) omnibuses and other passenger service vehicles operated by or on behalf of the Public Service Association, the Police Service, the Defence Forces and the Civil Protection Authorities.
