Zupco Leaves Scores Stranded After Mnangagwa Inauguration
Monday September 4, 2023 saw the inauguration of President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa at the gigantic National Sports Stadium (NSS) in Harare after winning the country’s disputed harmonised elections with a 52.6 percent margin, eight points ahead of his rival Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) who amassed 44 percent of the vote.
It was fast food galore for those who took it upon themselves to follow proceedings graced by several heads of States from the region and envoys from across the world who came to endorse a second term for Mnangagwa according to the country’s ammended Constitution.
However, SADC’s current strongmen, Joao Lourenco (Angolan President) and Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia President) did not step a foot in Zimbabwe. Lourenco, the current chair of the block and Hichilema who is at the helm of the grouping’s Troika preferred sending emissaries rather than attending the ceremony physically.
What started as an exhilerating journey to prop up the political camaraderie ended in tears for scores of rural folks bused to the swearing in ceremony from the country’s 10 provinces after some buses availed by public transporter and government parastatal, the Zimbabwe Unite Passenger Company (ZUPCO) broke down along the country’s highways upon returning the audience back to their respective locations.
This publication witnessed seven of these buses along various sections of the Harare-Bulawayo highway where passengers clad in Zanu PF regalia were left stranded after the buses gave in to the abuse rendered upon them by the State. Zupco which is currently dogged by operational challenges and a huge pay debt to its workers across the country is facing operational challenges amid over reliance by the government.
At the Belvedere area in Harare alone, there were two buses that had given in, leaving elderly citizens looking miserable and desperately waiting for a relief bus to alleviate their unforseen demise amid congesting the alread busy Samora machel Avenue that leads to Bulawayo.
It is not known how many of these buses broke down on the Harare-Mukumbura, Harare-Masvingo, Harare-Matabeland North and South or Harare-Mutare highways but those doubting this story are reminded of pictures or video footage of these buses breaking down after ferrying thousands of Zanu PF supporters to Presidential star rallies held across the country prior to election day strewn all over social media.
A recent widespread video of a Zanu PF supporter from Mberengwa who has earned herself the moniker “Mbuya veweave” after being left stranded during Zanu PF’s last rally star rally in Shurugwi’s Tongogara area bears testimony to some of the suffering met by the bussed electorate during the campaigns and after.
As if that was enough, to supplement the fleet other private bus owners such as Inter Africa, CAG, Blue Circle, Trip Trans among others seconded some of their unroadworthy fleets (Evidenced by the breakdowns) to assist the parastatal.
Coinciding with the school opening day for the third term, several passengers depending on the service were left stranded as the buses had been pre-booked for the ceremony.
The Belarus supplied Golden Dragon buses became a favourite of many when they were availed to provide a “modern and decent transport service” on various routes across the country but have since outlasted their free serviceability margin leading to breakdowns.
Purchased through Harare business magnate, Kudakwashe Tagwirei’s Landela Investments vehicle at US$58 900 each inflated to US$212 962 a unit for government purchase, the buses quoted controversy leading to The Zimbabwe Independent and Transparency International (TI) filing High Court applications for government to release pertinent details surrounding their acrual.
Dogged by the current economic downturn, Zupco is unable to service them, let alone pay its workers in time, bringing the whole scenario to a burden for the transport entity meant to serve public interest.
Parastatals such as the Zimbabwe National Roads Authority (Zinara) could have lost massive revenue acquired via toll fees which these buses were presumably waived from paying including that from VIP vehicles belonging to political elites.
This years inauguration saw over 600 buses being commandeered to ferry the electorate to the Zimbabwean capital, Harare.
Comments from Zupco acting chief executive officer Tineyi Rwasoka to ellucidate what became of the stranded passengers beared no fruition.