Some people in Harare have been forced to walk long distances from various suburbs into the CBD. This has been a result of the sharp increase in transport fares now being charged by commuter omnibus operators.
Transport operators have justified the fare hikes by the unavailability for fuel on the formal market. While the pump price for petrol is set at just under $1.40 according to the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA), a litre costs $5 on the parallel market.
A commuter omnibus driver who spoke to NewZimbabwe.com had this to say:
We are buying fuel on the black market in order to sustain our businesses which is why we are increasing fares on a daily basis.
The current fuel shortages have forced us to increase fares so that we also recover the costs of buying the fuel on the black market otherwise. We will go out of business if we continue charging old fares.
The Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) president Tafadzwa Goliati said that the government has to do something about the situation. He said:
The government is giving us a cold shoulder. The country has become chaotic with no laws being followed by anyone. This is exposing the general public who are forced to fork out the little money they are earning.
Oh Lord, what have we done to deserve this? Please our leaders; do something because the situation is unbearable.