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Bongani Ndlovu, Business Reporter
GOVERNMENT has moved to provide affordable urban transport services by allocating $3,7 billion to the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) while a proposal to partially privatise the parastatal is under consideration.

This was revealed yesterday by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube as he presented the 2022 National Budget in the House of Assembly.

This year, Zupco which is the sole public transporter, partnered the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) and introduced rail services in Bulawayo and Harare.

Under the agreement, NRZ is hiring out its locomotives and coaches to Zupco with the rail firm providing enginemen.

Zupco conductors collect the fares.

The move falls in line with government’s commitment to ensure the availability of decent, adequate and efficient public transport system in the country.

Minister Ncube said in addition to the $3,7 billion allocated to Zupco, Government is considering to partly privatise the company.

“In 2022, the Budget caters for this subsidised social protection programme and $3,7 billion has been allocated. Concurrently, Government is reviewing the current model with a view to improve financial and service delivery efficiency, and has already engaged a consultant whose role include exploring possibilities for partial privatisation of Zupco,” said Minister Ncube.

He said the Urban Mass Transportation System by Zupco which charges subsidised fares, has proved affordable to the commuting public.

“The programme has since roped in private players and partnered with the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) to augment the available fleet. The combined fleet now stands at 900 buses and 1 150 commuter omnibuses country wide servicing various routes including those serving tertiary education and other social services institutions including to health centres,” said Minister Ncube.

On Tuesday, a batch of 90 new Golden Dragon buses arrived in the country, taking the number of buses delivered by Government to Zupco this year to more than 500. The new buses were imported from China.- Follow on Twitter @bonganinkunzi