Harare Correspondent
HARARE – The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has issued a strong rebuke to the government, holding it partly responsible for the nation’s devastating road accident toll due to its failure to establish a reliable public transport system.
In a pastoral letter released last week, the ZCC stated that the recent surge in fatal accidents, including the July crash at Manyame Bridge that claimed 17 lives, exposes “deep structural and systemic challenges” requiring urgent government intervention.
While the government has cracked down on unregistered commuter omnibuses (kombis) and unroadworthy vehicles, including banning police from running transport businesses, the ZCC argues these measures are insufficient. The clergy body asserts the core failure lies in the inability to provide safe, affordable, and adequate public transport.
“The unregulated operations of commuter omnibuses, despite significant government investment in acquiring a new fleet of buses for the Zimbabwe United Passenger Transport Company (Zupco), remain a critical contributor to the ongoing road carnage,” the ZCC stated.
The church council highlighted the dramatic collapse of Zupco, once the backbone of national transport, which it says mirrors Zimbabwe’s broader governance and economic woes. Despite a high-profile 2019 initiative by President Mnangagwa’s administration to revive Zupco, the buses remain scarce.
“Despite the procurement of modern buses intended to provide reliable, safe and affordable transport, Zupco’s operations have been hampered by inefficiencies, including inadequate fleet and maintenance, limited route coverage and inconsistent scheduling,” the ZCC said.
“Zupco’s inability to adequately service the high demand for public transport has left significant gaps in the system, forcing commuters to rely on erratic and often unsafe private omnibuses.”
This gap, the ZCC argues, forces desperate commuters into dangerous vehicles:
“The situation is further compounded by the desperation of the commuting public, which, faced with limited options and urgent travel needs, is compelled to board overcrowded and unsafe vehicles, risking lives daily.”
The clergy directly linked Zupco’s failures and lack of private operator oversight to the road chaos: “The failure to fully operationalise Zupco’s potential, coupled with the absence of stringent oversight over private operators, perpetuates a cycle of disorder and danger on Zimbabwe’s roads.”
The ZCC also pointed to serious allegations undermining Zupco:
- A 2023 Auditor-General’s report revealing Zupco failed to account for ZW$3.4 billion in urban revenue, suggesting fraud and systemic corruption.
- Reports that buses, like Belarusian Dragon units worth US$58,900, were purchased by the government for Zupco at inflated prices of US$212,962 each.
- Frequent diversion of Zupco buses from public routes to transport Zanu PF supporters to party events for free, reducing availability for paying commuters.
The ZCC called for urgent action: the revival and expansion of the public transport system, “stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and an end to corrupt practices that allow unroadworthy vehicles and [un]licensed drivers to operate unchecked.”
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