Zimbabwe Commuters Struggle to Afford Public Transport | Voice of America - English
In Zimbabwe's city, Mutare, residents are shunning regular commuter operators and using other forms of transport ? like open lorries ? saying buses are simply too expensive. Trucks usually travel to the city center daily to hire laborers. Now, however, drivers say their business has picked up dramatically since they began ferrying residents to and from work.
But a few innovative locals have found a way aroundthe transport nightmare; they're hitching rides with lorry- and truck driverswho charge half of what operators want. Brighton Chichakara says he's more than comfortableusing other forms of transport. However he says when it rains he won't be ableto jump onto the back of an open lorry; then he'll have to hitch a ride in acombi: "The trucks are a dependable and cheap way of goingand back from town. At the banks we get $500, 000 and operators charge thatsame amount meaning that one will have no other means of getting back to workif they rely on withdrawals from the bank. It is only sad now that the rainsare imminent that we are forced to go for them." Another commuter Silvia Sithole says the trucksgive consumers much-needed relief. She explains when one makes a trip to thecity, returning is a problem because it costs too much. "We are finding it hard to travel daily into townand back on the $500,000 we withdraw which ends up paying for one trip. Life isnow hard and the trucks are a welcome development to most of us." Chikanga resident Farai Mudzingesays truckers' presence has eased many commuters' financial burdens. "Many of us are using trucks to getto work and back. We pray they continue serving us as commuter operators arenow bent on hiking fares as they please forgetting we only get money enough tocater for one way trip by their current charges." A truck driver, who identified himself only asPeter, explains he waits in the hope of being hired for a quick day job. But onhis way to the city center he's begun transporting commuters? and doing aroaring trade. He says it's extra cash for him as he has to travel to townregardless of whether he's transporting people or not. Peter explains his truck isusually hired to ferry cement, poles and other building materials. But commuter omnibus operator Edward Pasipamire, ofDangamvura, complains of losing business to truckers. He says he currentlyearns fewer trips than previously. Edward says he makes as little as 10-milliondaily, which is less than half of what he usually nets. Commuter fares have been going up twice a week, onMondays and Thursdays.