
Zupco acting chief executive officer, Mr Everisto Madangwa,
said the bus company is set to increase its fleet to service more routes
countrywide for the convenience of members of the public. Mr Madangwa was
speaking on Wednesday in an interview following the launch of Zupco’s
e-ticketing system in Bulawayo.
“In Bulawayo we have 72 Zupco moving buses. But we need
twice that number. Countrywide we are looking at eventually having 3 000 buses
to service everyone. That will be the full capacity of our buses that will
cover all areas and all angles of the moving public. That is where we are
heading and it’s a process to gradually build our capacity. And we can rest
assure everyone that something is happening,” he said.
Mr Madangwa said so far they have 325 buses but more are on
the way. He said the revival of the company has also contributed to job
creation which is expected to continue once more buses are in the country.
“We are at the moment talking about plus or minus 1
200 people who have been employed since inception.
“We have definitely made a contribution towards employment
because the 1 200 people I’m talking about were not employed before but are now
on the Zupco workforce,” said Mr Madangwa.
He said the Zupco e-ticketing system is convenient and will
eliminate revenue leakages.
The e-ticketing system allows members of the public to
pre-pay bus fare and are given a card that is scanned each time they intend to
board a bus. “We are trying to eradicate the system where people use
cash to pay their bus fares. This is a situation where you pay your bus fare in
advance. We are trying to introduce efficiencies in managing our business. One
of the efficiencies that we want to have is to curb revenue pilferage. So the
curbing of revenue pilferage is done through this introduction of this
electronic card which is used for collection of revenue,” said Mr Madangwa.
He said the system is now operational in Bulawayo and
Harare and is set to be introduced in other provinces throughout the country.
Zupco southern region general manager Mr Tineyi Ruwasoka
said the bus company is in the process of perfecting schedules that its buses
will use.
Mr Ruwasoka said they are working to effectively service
all routes.
Speaking at the launch, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs
Minister, Cde Judith Ncube, urged Bulawayo residents to embrace the Zupco tap
card e-ticketing system as it reduces hurdles associated with paying transport
fares.
“We want to encourage Bulawayo residents who use Zupco
buses to utilise this tap card. It makes it easy for them and convenient for
the bus crews as well. It has no change problems. Buses have become important
for the commuting public and we are pushing that more of them are introduced in
Bulawayo. The bus crews provide a hospitable environment for commuters while
being affordable as well,” said Cde Ncube.
She said employment figures being projected by Zupco are a
good indicator which shows Government’s commitment to job creation and
addressing problems affecting the people. Cde Ncube said companies such as
Zupco that are creating employment should not import labour while conducting
their recruiting exercise.
In a statement yesterday Zupco said it will recruit more
bus drivers and conductors from June 24 to July 24 in eight provinces. There
will be no recruitment in Bulawayo and Harare provinces.
It said recruitment in Matabeleland North province will
take place in Nkayi on July 9 and in Lupane the following day.
Matabeleland South recruitment will be done in Filabusi on
July 11 and Maphisa Growth Point on July 12. In Midlands, job seekers should go
to Nembudziya Growth point on July 16 and Nhema growth point the following day.
Zupco said those who want to apply to be bus conductors
should have at least five Ordinary Level subjects including English,
Mathematics and Accounts.
The company said experience in the transport operating
industry is an added advantage for bus conductors.
“For bus drivers, one should be a holder of a class one
driver’s licence, must have a defensive driving certificate and a valid medical
certificate. The person must have excellent customer care skills and must have
at least four years’ experience as a bus driver,” reads the statement.
Zupco said applicants can check recruitment dates in
respective provinces at the company’s depots in their provinces. Chronicle
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