The Zimbabwe Passenger Transporters Organisation (ZPTO) has said it has imported 150 buses under the duty-free concession set by Government to complement efforts to improve the public transport system.
ZPTO chairman Sam Nanhanga expressed gratitude over the suspension of duty on buses and vowed to complement Government efforts in the transport sector. He said:
We want to thank the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) for introducing the duty free system on importing buses.
As an association we have managed to import 150 buses so we are coming back to Government so that we have a robust mass transportation system in the city. We have already started plying intra-city routes using the new buses. All suburbs countrywide we are deploying more buses as they come in.’
We have partnered other associations like the Passengers Association of Zimbabwe for the passengers in a campaign for passengers to avoid mushikashika. We have bought 150 buses to improve the transport system and we hope that by the end of the year we will double the number.
Nanhanga also thanked the Minister of Local Government and Public Work July Moyo for giving their association power to control touts.
Esau Mupfumi, another ZPTO member, echoed the same sentiments and said they were ready to complement Government efforts in carrying passengers across the city and the nation at large.
He, however, lamented the vandalism of some new buses by unknown thugs and pleaded with the police to take action against such acts.