…ZIICC prays for new Manicaland buses

Ngoni Dapira

SCORE’s of Zimbabwe Indigenous Interdenominational Council of Churches (ZIIC) members yesterday (Thursday) assembled at an unveiling ceremony at Mutare Showground to pray for a fleet of 20 new Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) buses allocated to Manicaland.

Members of ZIICC going to pray for the new buses.

President Emmerson Mnangangwa’s Government imported 65-seater Golden Dragon buses from China allocated to all the 10 provinces in the country. Manicaland received 20 buses which were officially handed over to Zupco yesterday by the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Nokhuthula Matsikenyeri. Over the last 12 months, Government has now imported more than 450 buses from China to resuscitate the operations of the once moribund parastatal company, which operates both urban and long-distance bus routes in the country.

ZIICC national secretary general Asmon Zihove commended Minister Matsikenyeri for recognizing the need to prioritise the Church to pray for the buses at the official unveiling ceremony, given the country’s surging record of road carnages by public transporters.

“The festive season is full of accidents. We feel very honoured as the church to take part in the commissioning of these new buses and pray for accident free public buses services nationwide. When these buses are coming to the province they are not coming for the party (Zanu-PF) but for the nation. As a church which is apolitical our understanding is that the President has thought of his people to alleviate transport woes which is very commendable,” said Zihove.

He said before, the church was included in developmental programmes but never really involved but this should change. “We are actually having a campaign as ZIICC, whereby we are encouraging our members to take part in government programmes,” said Zihove.

Minister Matsikenyeri officially unveiling the Zupco buses.

Minister Matsikenyeri said by fulfilling his promises on resuscitating Zupco to alleviate public transport woes, President Mnangagwa is showing that he is a listening President with pro-poor policies at heart. She underscored that development does not happen overnight which is why the transitional economic turnaround blueprints such as the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1) from 2021-2025 are being implemented.

“These buses will be for Mutare mostly and peri-urban areas. They come at a good time that we want to decongest the number of people that board our public transport because of the new covid-19 variant. We also want to alleviate the transport problems being faced by our people especially during the festive season,” said the resident Minister.

The new dispensation Government has since reaffirmed its commitment to ease transport challenges by availing reliable and affordable transport to the people in line with its Vision 2030.

The new fleet of buses come at a time when law enforcement agents are struggling to rein in illegal transporters and unregistered vehicles better known as mishikashika that carry travelers at undesignated points creating chaos and unnecessary traffic jams. The Zimbabwe Republic Police has also since launched a blitz where travelers who board buses, commuter omnibuses and mishikashika not registered under the Zupco franchise risk fines up to ZW$2000.

Part of dilapidated fleet of old Zupco buses at the Mutare depot before the parastatal was resuscitated by Government.

Zupco Manicaland depot manager Godfrey Changadzo said the buses come in the nick of time to improve their deficit of buses.

“We had a huge deficit in terms of buses in Manicaland and the 20 new buses will help improve our service because we only had 189 buses as Manicaland but our province is very big with seven districts, so the 20 new buses will really help us,” said Changadzo

Changadzo said the rebranded Zupco under the new dispensation government is not only boosting the Zupco fleet, but starting the process of standardizing models, easing maintenance and allowing good stocks of spares so that it doesn’t become moribund like before.

Hon Sanyatwe

Nyanga North legislator Chido Sanyatwe applauded the move citing that in marginalised rural areas transport is expensive because Zupco is not present but soon this problem will be eased given the Vision 2030 plans which include reviving the operations of Zupco to improve the public transport system countrywide.

“We are very happy as the Manicaland community. Our people in rural areas like Fombe there are being cramped in mishikashika transport like luggage but with efficient Zupco transport systems I think this will be a thing of the past. Thank you President Mnangagwa for this initiative,” said Hon Sanyatwe.

Unveiling ceremony in pics:

Minister Matsikenyeri having a feel of the new buses.

Some of the ZIICC bishops and senior church members who were present.

Dance time…

ZIICC members gathering around the buses to pray for them.

Minister Matsikenyeri (red church regalia) shows off her dancing skills.

ZIICC members gathering to pray for the buses.