TRANSPORT operators plying rural routes have increased
fares to capitalise on an increase in the number of people travelling to their
homes to spend Christmas with their families.
A snap survey by The Chronicle yesterday revealed that buses plying the
Bulawayo-Nkayi route are now charging $80 for a single trip from $60 while
those using kombis have to part with at least $120 from $100 for the same
distance.
Kombis plying the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho route charge $70.
Previously they charged $50. Buses are
charging $100 for a trip from Bulawayo to Lupane while those travelling to
Binga will have to fork out $200 from $150 for a single trip.
A trip to Halisupe in Gwanda district and Maphisa in Matobo
district now costs $100 from $80.
Some transport operators who spoke to The Chronicle
attributed the hike to an acute shortage of diesel at service stations which is
forcing them to resort to the informal traders who are charging exorbitant
prices.
At filling stations, diesel is going for $18,89 a litre
while on the black market the commodity is sold for US$2 per litre (about $32
using the interbank rate).
“Usually during this time of the year, we increase fares
due to demand, but in this case, the push factor is a shortage of diesel, which
we are now sourcing from the black market at an exorbitant price.
Unfortunately, we are then left with no other option but to pass the buck to
our passengers,” said Mr Benson Gumede, a driver of a Nkayi-bound bus.
Mr Luckmore Ndlovu, a kombi driver who plies the
Bulawayo-Brunapeg route, said they were charging $150 from the previous $100.
When a Chronicle news crew visited Renkini Bus Terminus and
Entumbane Country Bus Terminus yesterday, there was a hive of activity as
scores of travellers jostled to catch buses to their rural homes ahead of the
Christmas holiday.
However, bus conductors and kombi drivers said this year
the number of travellers was down compared to the previous year during the same
period.
“We normally handle a huge influx of travellers during this
time of the year as people will be travelling home for Christmas. However, this
time the numbers have gone down and this could be attributed to the prevailing
economic challenges,” said Mr Lazarus Ndebele who plies the Bulawayo-Maphisa
route.
Mr Lungile Mlotshwa, a vendor who operates at Renkini Bus
Terminus concurred with Mr Gumede.
“I have been operating in this place for the past five
years and usually it becomes busy during this time as most people will be
travelling to their rural homes for Christmas. This year, it is less busy and
my business has been adversely affected due to the decline in the number of
travellers,” he said.
The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) has deployed
20 teams nationwide that are conducting periodic road safety awareness
campaigns to reduce carnage on the roads during the festive season. The
awareness campaigns started on December 16 and will run to January 3, 2020.
Police are also urging motorists to observe road
regulations when driving and have mounted roadblocks on most roads to check
whether or not vehicles are roadworthy and stamp out speeding and other road
offences. Chronicle
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