Government says it has mobilised more than 140 buses that will carry passengers for $1 per trip in and around Harare starting today.

Commuters from Chitungwiza and Norton will pay $1,50 and $2 per trip, respectively. The rest of the routes will be charged a dollar.

The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) will coordinate the new transport system after it was tasked to manage a fleet of buses that will cover all suburbs in Harare, before extending to other towns and cities.

The buses will start plying various routes from as early as 5am up until around 10.30pm.

Makoni in Chitungwiza will have four buses to Harare City Centre that will do 11 trips each. The first bus will depart at 5.30am, the second at 5.50am, and then two at 6am and 6.10am.

The last bus will leave at 8.50pm. On the other hand, another four buses will do 11 trips from Harare City Centre to Makoni with the first one leaving at 5am, followed by the 5.10am, 5.20am and 5.30am buses.

Ruwa will have two buses from Harare City Centre and another two to the capital. The buses will do nine trips until 8.30pm.
The timetable is the same for Seke 1 and 2, St Mary’s, Zengeza 1, 2, 3 and4.

There are five buses that will ply the Tafara route between 5am and 9.50pm while Glen Norah A and B have four buses from 5am and 9.40pm.

There will also be 12 trips to and from town in Dzivarasekwa, Epworth Domboramwari, Epworth Overspill, Kuwadzana 1 to 7, Kuwadzana Extension, Mufakose, Kambuzuma, Budiriro 1 and 2, Budiriro 4 and 5, Glen View1, 2 and 3, Machipisa-Lusaka, Warren Park 1 and 2, Warren Park D and Norton.

Source: State Media

The buses will be allowing passengers to use various forms of payment including cash and plastic money.