The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) is a
parastatal company in
Zimbabwe, which operates both urban and long-distance bus routes in the country.
History
ZUPCO was formed in 1985 in
Harare, soon after the
new government was formed. Before
Zimbabwean Independence
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Moz ...
, the bus company was run as a
Parastatal and it was known as the
Rhodesia
Rhodesia (, ), officially from 1970 the Republic of Rhodesia, was an unrecognised state in Southern Africa from 1965 to 1979, equivalent in territory to modern Zimbabwe. Rhodesia was the ''de facto'' successor state to the British colony of S ...
Bus Company. After transition, the company was renamed to Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO). By 1993 ZUPCO was operating 1,200 buses on 426 routes.
Bus services
Regional services
The company offers direct and reliable out-of-country bus services to Countries such as
Malawi,
Zambia,
Botswana,
South Africa.
Urban services
Urban routes include transport services from the key residential areas to many of the Central business districts in Harare. These include for example the
Harare-
Chitungwiza
Chitungwiza is an urban centre and town of Harare Province in Zimbabwe.
History
As of the 2022 census, Chitungwiza had a population of 371,244.
There are two main highways which connect the city to Harare namely Seke road and Chitungwiza r ...
route, which travels from a large business district to a large residential area. In line with being a market driven player in the industry, the company has also sought to alleviate the suffering of the urban consumer who has to pay hiked fares during peak hours by commuter omnibuses. Because of this rising problem, the company has reintroduced the urban bus routes at an affordable fare during the morning and evening peak hours.
Rural services
ZUPCO has purposefully invested in and is looking into ways of providing a safe and reliable service for the usually neglected rural residents. Thus the company provides daily scheduled bus service to many rural areas dotted around the country. Like many other bus companies, rural areas are seldom given bus routes, as the cost is very high for a small part of the population.
Conflicts
ZUPCO operations however declined following deregulation of the urban transport sector, and the uprising of individual based mini-bus "combi" services.
In 2006, the former ZUPCO chairman
Charles Nherera
Charles Nherera is a Zimbabwean educationalist. He was founding Vice–Chancellor of Chinhoyi University of Technology and chairman of the parastatal Zimbabwe United Passenger Company
The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) is a par ...
was arrested for corruption in relation to bus procurement and was jailed.
In February 2016, the company was accused of
Corruption
Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense which is undertaken by a person or an organization which is entrusted in a position of authority, in order to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one's personal gain. Corruption m ...
, mismanagement, and flouting very important procedures. Many of the buses in
Harare were cited to have ''No fuel'', as there was not enough money; Although there was still over $500,000 still sitting in a recapitalization account, and only $10,000 was needed to refuel all buses.
Accidents
On January 18, 2015, one Zupco bus and another bus from a different company
Sideswiped. The accident caused 21 passengers to die onsite and 3 later died at the hospital. At least 46 people were seriously injured.
On May 2, 2016, a Zupco bus caught fire after a suspected mechanical problem caused the bus to create an internal flame. The bus was heading to a high school with 70 students inside the bus. All of the students were able to get out without serious injury.
References
External links
Official Zupco websiteFamous Zupco accidents
{{authority control
Transport companies of Zimbabwe
1980 establishments in Zimbabwe
Transport companies established in 1980
Government-owned companies of Zimbabwe
Companies based in Harare