The Sunday News
Eddious Masundire Shumba, Bulawayo.
IT is so disturbing to see that cases of targeted attack on Zupco buses and crews are on the increase in Bulawayo and most residents have called on the police officers to protect these unarmed bus crews.
The thugs are believed to be hired by some kombi crews who are failing to compete with Zupco and have resorted to violently attacking the Zupco buses and its crews especially in the evening.
That has forced Zupco to withdraw its buses from some of the routes where its crews have been beaten up. For example, How Mine residents and those residing in Gumtree were left stranded without the Zupco buses after the bus crews were violently stoned one evening.
More recently a bus was pelted with stones in Manningdale suburb while another Zupco kombi was also targeted at some areas near Leeside Shopping Centre in Matsheumhlope.
When the buses were first introduced, we used to see some police officers near the pick up point or even accompany the buses but these officers are no longer doing the same leaving the drivers and conductors in danger of being attacked by the hired thugs.
Residents of Gumtree and How Mine are now made to pay large sums of money on transport ever since the buses were withdrawn. I hope that Zupco authorities will look into all these problems.
