MUTARE- Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) in partnership with a local bank has launched its convenient electronic ticketing system Tap and Go card to Mutare commuters in a move that is expected to bring convenience to the eastern city residents.
By Donald Nyarota
According to ZUPCO, the electronic ticketing system seeks to increase revenue collection, ease transactions and plug cash leakages from public transport operator.
Speaking at the launch ZUPCO, CEO Everisto Madangwa, said the electronic system will not only provide convenience for the commuting public but also allow for real time monitoring of operations to curb pilferage.
“ZUPCO is launching the Tapcard system in Mutare today, bringing the city in line with other cities where the system is already operational.
“As ZUPCO we have taken heed of Government’s call to promote homegrown initiatives as we have partnered with Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) and two financial institutions NMB and CBZ.
“The Tapcard system has advantages to commuters as well as ZUPCO, some of the advantages are that this is a cashless revenue collection methods, the system will help us increase our collections as the revenue as the transactions are recorded in real time,” he said.
Dr Talon Garikai the Director of Technology Transfer at the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) said the tap card was part of a new engineering model of controlling, managing the fleet.
Dr Garikai said the new monitoring system will allow for remote real-time monitoring of routes through satellite imaging as well location specific monitoring of physical surroundings of the bus routes.
He said the system, which is currently in phase one, will be upgrade to integrate normal banking services for the convenience of users.
“We have launched only the first phase of this system and the card has no transaction fee for using the card, and this can be controlled on one’s phones.
“In the second phase this card will be used as any card, even in other transport operators, we are pushing this to be a policy to ensure.
“In terms of operations this will allow monitoring of the payment remotely for all our depots in real time and we have also installed a tracking system to enhance security.
“The system also allows for a satellite mode where we can monitor real time imaging of the bus, its time as well as physical objects within the vicinity of the bus,” he said.
