After a year of bureaucratic limbo, ZUPCO is finally set to procure hundreds of new buses in the next three months. Because, you know, a year isn’t a long time to wait for public transport upgrades.

The state-owned transporter has been trying to acquire 500 buses since October 2023, but procurement processes had delayed the project. Now, after “navigating the requisite procurement procedures,” ZUPCO is ready to start buying buses. Who knows what “fulfilling financial arrangements” means, but let’s hope it’s worth the wait.

ZUPCO’s bus acquisition initiative has a dual strategy: importing buses and reviving Zimbabwe’s local vehicle assembly industry. Because, why not? A memorandum of understanding has been signed with Ashok Leyland to assemble buses and trucks locally. This move is expected to ease public transport challenges and stimulate local industry. Let’s see if it actually works this time.

Procurement will be gradual, starting as soon as the agreed financial terms are fulfilled. So, we’ll just have to wait and see if these new buses will actually materialize. Fingers crossed! The buses are expected to ease public transport challenges in urban and rural areas, while also creating jobs through the reactivation of assembly plants. Let’s hope it’s not just another pipe dream.

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