COWDRAY Park councillor Collet Ndlovu yesterday sought the intervention of Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Obert Mpofu in the commuter omnibus permit wrangle that has forced transport operators to hike fares.
CHIEF REPORTER
Commuter transport operators plying the route in Bulawayo have unilaterally increased fares from R5 to R7 citing increased operational costs, including the price of fuel. The suburb is about 20km from the city centre.
Commuters said they learnt of the increase after seeing posters on kombi windows.
Ndlovu said most commuter omnibuses plying the route do not have permits for the area, resulting in them being impounded by traffic police.
He said they had intended to present their grievances to Bulawayo Provincial Affairs minister Eunice Sandi-Moyo as the most senior government representative in the city, but the cancellation of the scheduled Monday meeting had prompted them to seek Mpofu’s intervention.
“After we got a call on Friday last week that the scheduled Monday meeting with Sandi-Moyo had been cancelled, we were left with no option but to approach the Transport minister,” Ndlovu said.
“All we want from Mpofu is to allow commuter omnibus owners to operate while they regulate their permits.
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“This will stop residents from being forced to pay more in fares.”
Cowdray Park residents had initially petitioned Ndlovu seeking his intervention to stop transport operators in the area from overcharging.
Ndlovu also approached Zupco to provide four buses that would ferry residents at a reasonable price.
