Farai Chikore
CHINHOYI – The early morning air in Chinhoyi was filled with anticipation as five brand-new, gleaming buses pulled into the Chinhoyi Training Centre complex, their polished chrome catching the sunlight.
These five vehicles are the latest arrivals in Mashonaland West, part of a fleet of 55 state-of-the-art buses recently procured by the Government of Zimbabwe to bolster the Public Service Commission (PSC) fleet.
Demonstrating her confidence in the safety and comfort of the new buses, Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Marian Chombo, made a surprise, hands-on gesture at the conclusion of the event.
Opting out of her official motorcade, she boarded one of the newly commissioned buses for her return trip to the office, leaving her official vehicle and aides to follow behind separately.
Behind the wheel for this inaugural ride was Tafadzwa Maradzika, a driver from the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Service, who skillfully navigated the route back to the government complex, marking a memorable close to the day’s proceedings.
Officiating the commissioning ceremony, Minister Chombo stood before civil servants and newly assigned drivers to formally hand over the buses.
Her message was clear: these buses are a vital investment in the civil service, and their longevity depends heavily on community responsibility.
Minister Chombo emphasised the absolute necessity of strict maintenance protocols.
She instructed the transport team to adhere strictly to scheduled maintenance intervals, insisting that no bus should remain on the road once it reaches its scheduled service mileage.
Turning her attention to the public servants present, she called for collective accountability, urging passengers to take pride in the fleet and refrain from defacing the interior, specifically highlighting the misuse or damage of seat covers.
Highlighting the logistical impact of the new fleet, Mashonaland West head of the Public Service Commission Edmond Mapara noted that the buses will be deployed strategically across the province’s rural districts.
Acknowledging that the previous fleet allocated a few years ago fell short of meeting the expansive transit needs of Mashonaland West, he reassured workers that this new batch would bridge crucial connectivity gaps for civil servants working in remote areas.
To ensure sustainable and affordable transit for government workers, the fare structure has been set at six ZiG per trip, equivalent to 20 cents in United States dollars, providing a much-needed, cost-effective travel solution for civil servants across the province.
