Bus fares go up nearly 200%

By Violet Gonda

1 February 2006

Fares for long distance buses went up Tuesday by nearly 200% adding more strain to passengers hard hit by the economic crisis in Zimbabwe. A single trip to Mutare from Harare now cost at least a Z$1m up from Z$340 000 and it’s now Z$1.8m from Z$800 000 to go from Harare to Bulawayo.

Buses are still scarce in Harare leaving commuters stranded for at least 2 days at Mbare Musika. Many of them have had to brave the heavy down pour that Harare has been experiencing since last Friday.

Prices of basic goods have also gone up Wednesday with a 2l bottle of cooking oil going for Z$560 000 up from Z$210 000, a bar of soap Z$300 000 from Z$130 000. Mealie meal is in short supply in the main outlets like OK and TM supermarkets and in Harare people are queuing up overnight and in the rain to get the commodity direct from the millers.

The latest inflation hike has been caused by the recent increase in fuel prices to Z$130 000 per litre after the government's liberalisation of the oil industry.

Dealers are charging anything from Z$130 000 to Z$160 000 per litre.