The Zimbabwe United Passengers Company (ZUPCO) has announced new bus fares which sync with the prevailing black market rates.
In the newly announced rates, intra-city busfares are pegged at US$1 to $800ZWL which is a departure from the government’s preferred rate of US$1 to 4635 which was set by the Reserve bank last week.
In a statement, the state-owned transporter advised operators contracted that they need to charge the fares with effect from 4 November 2022.
“You’re being advised to revert to the gazetted fare of $800 on all peri-urban routes with effect from November 4.
‘For passengers willing to pay in USD, crews are urged to accept US$1 for a journey without an extra charge having to be passed to avoid fare distortions.
‘Passengers paying in USD should be given a ticket matching the $800. You’re now mandated to buy your own fuel with effect from November 10 as all highway buses are doing,” the statement reads.
Meanwhile, ZUPCO buses’ presence on urban routes has greatly diminished after the government reversed its move to bar private transporters at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
