Cross-border bus services hampered by surge in fre...

Cross-border bus services hampered by surge in freight services

Patience Muchemwa

The cross-border transport industry is facing a decline in demand due to the proliferation of runners in the country, Zim Now has learnt.

In an interview with Zim Now, Road Port Manager Gift Mupandenyama said the transport business started to decline after the Covid-19 lockdown because during the lockdown, people got accustomed to sending money while goods were sent via trucks, which were operating that time.

Mupandenyama said government should come up with some policies, which restrict bus companies from providing freight services but rather passenger transportation.

“Soon after the Covid-19 lockdown, people opted to continue buying online rather than to travel, in short, I can safely say the runners promoted freight transport.

“The government or the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development should come up with stringent policies restricting bus companies and trucks from providing freight services.

“Goods which will be found on buses should be seized or any possible conditions to stop the freight business,” he said.

Some cross-border bus operators that Zim Now spoke to were in agreement with Mupandenyama.

“Runners are bringing goods instead of passengers, yet cross borders are designed to carry passengers and few goods in boots.

“Runners are destroying our market and our bus seats too,” said one of the cross-border bus operators.

Cross-border bus operators said they have no other option than to carry the goods because there are no passengers travelling to buy goods from surrounding countries.

Caroline Denga, a retailer in Rado Arts in Harare, said she now prefers to order her bags online from South Africa, arguing that it’s a bit cheaper than travelling.

“I realised it during the time of Covid-19 when we were restricted from travelling out of the country that it is possible and cheaper as well to order my bags online.

“My bags are sent through cross-border bus drivers or trucks and they arrive safely,” she said.

The cross-border bus industry was one of the booming businesses between 2007 and 2008 when people were travelling to seek jobs in South Africa and Botswana.

In 2010, people started travelling to order goods mostly in South Africa and things were flowing smoothly until 2020 when Covid-19 spread to the world.