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Whinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
The government has no power to control long distance bus fares and the only way to regulate the fares is for those travelling to boycott buses charging exorbitant fares, a senior official said yesterday.

The Principal Director responsible for technical services in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Eric Gumbi said the only weapon passengers wield is boycotting buses that charge exorbitant fares.

Eng Gumbi was responding to complaints that long distance bus fares had been increased by more than 100 percent ahead of the festive season.

“The government stopped regulating fares for long distance buses in 1997. This thefore means public transporters are free to charge what they want,” said Eng Gumbi.

He however said the government position was that operators should not take advantage of the increased demand for transport especially during public holidays like Christmas to increase fares.

“It’s unfair to take advantage of the increased demand for transport to charge exorbitant fares,” said Eng Gumbi.

A survey yesterday confirmed that most long distance bus operators have increased fares by more than 100 percent taking advantage of desperate festive season travellers.

At Renkini and Entumbane long distance bus terminuses, bus operators said they had taken advantage of the brisk business to increase fares.

The fare from Bulawayo to Binga which is usually $10 has been increased to $24 while that for Bulawayo to Nkayi has been increased from $7 to $15.

Travellers said they had no option but to pay the exorbitant fares as they were keen to spend the Christmas holidays with their families.

One of the travellers, Tidings Maphosa said: “We can’t afford to pay the amounts bus operators are charging, but we’ve no option since there is no other means of transport.”