Zimbabwe authorities clash with Bulawayo transport operators over fares

By Violet Gonda
26 January 2006

The police in Bulawayo have launched a series of uncoordinated operations where they have been stopping and impounding vehicles and booking commuter operators who have increased fares.

Loughty Dube, the Bulawayo chairperson of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists said transport operators increased fares on Monday from ZW$20 000 to ZW$30 000, for a single trip into the city centre from surrounding residential areas.

The Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo, who is supposed to sanction public transport fares, has said the increases were illegal. But the Bulawayo United Passengers’ Association (BUPTA) has refused to revert to the old fares.

BUPTA chairperson Strike Ndlovu, who was arrested on Tuesday, reportedly accused the police of fuelling the crisis by taking bribes from omnibus drivers and harassing them. He allegedly warned that the operators would defy the government directive.

Loughty Dube said the operator was charged under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA). Ndlovu confirmed to SW Radio Africa that he was arrested but said he could not offer any more information.

The police in Bulawayo refused to comment.

Commuter omnibus operators countrywide have been hiking fares intermittently, citing rising operational costs and the exorbitant price of fuel.

The crisis has been made worse by the fact that for most public transporters the competitive black market has now become their main source for petrol and diesel .

Zimbabwe is grappling with its worst foreign currency crisis since independence, which has resulted in the critical fuel shortages.