Masvingo (New Ziana) – Recent fare increases by the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO)appear to have dealt the commuting public in Masvingo a knockout financial blow, with many now resorting to walking to and from work.

ZUPCO last week doubled its fares for urban routes to $16 for large conventional buses while those preferring the smaller and faster commuter omnibuses now have to part with $32 for a trip.

This has left many in the Ancient City with little option but to walk distances of between 4km to 8km from areas such as Rujeko and Rhodene which are nearer the city centre and Mucheke’s Runyararo West and Victoria Ranch sections that are further out.

Long queues of people walking to and from the city centre are a common sight during the morning and evening peak hours.

While some people have the option to forgo traveling into the city centre on occasions, those obliged to make daily trips to work are however feeling the heat.

Tinashe Muvirimi, who travels daily into the city centre by ZUPCO, said the fares of up to $64 a day have become unbearable, forcing him to join other residents from Runyararo West that trek to and from the city centre daily now on foot.

“I was shocked on Saturday when I wanted to board a ZUPCO Kombi (commuter omnibus) when the conductor asked me to pay $32 for a trip into town.
When I computed the figures, I realized that I am supposed to pay $160 per week to go to work; that’s a lot of money for an ordinary man like me, I hardly earn enough,” said Muvirimi.

Cheryl Mhlanga echoed the same sentiments, saying she had now opted to walk daily from Mucheke D to work because she is failing to raise the amount ZUPCO is demanding, with her family of three needing $480 for transport weekly.

“We are now walking from Yeukai residential suburb to town every day because we cannot afford the ZUPCO fares which are now beyond us, we just wake up early so that we get to work in time,” said Mhlanga.

While the situation is difficult, Mirriam Khumbula could not help but reminisce about her youth when walking long distances to school and local grinding mill was the norm.

“Tadzokera pachinyakare chedu tava kungofamba netsoka ndizvo zvatakakura tichiita izvi taifamba long distances kuenda kuzvikoro nekuchigayo zvinorwadza hazvo asi tichasvika pakujaira,”she said.

(We have gone back to our past; we are now walking on foot as was the case when growing up. We were walking long distances to school and the grinding mill. It’s painful but we will get used.”

New Ziana