The Zimbabwe Passengers Association (ZPA) has implored the government to lift the ban on kombis to reduce transport challenges being faced by commuters, and thus decongest overcrowded ranks and curb the spread of coronavirus.
In a statement on Monday, ZPA secretary-general Paul Makiwa blamed the ZUPCO monopoly for the rise in coronavirus infections in the country saying people are contracting the virus while thronging bus terminuses for hours. Said Makiwa:
The government should lift the ban on other transport players, but tighten the rules and regulations since the Zupco monopoly has failed and has many a time forced passengers to travel in open trucks.
We know there are those (passengers) that passed away, some are sick and some have recovered.
From the time we started the lockdown, the number of cases was very low, but from the time the government started to overload passengers in Zupco buses, the numbers rose at an alarming rate. I believe those that gather statistics can agree with me.
However, Ministry of Information permanent secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana yesterday said it was not yet safe to allow private commuter omnibuses back on the road.