Kasukuwere owes us money – bus drivers

According to the workers, Kasukuwere took over Rutendo Transport Operators (RTO) from the previous owner, Sofia Rutendo, some time last year. The minister, who owns several other businesses in Harare, said to have visited the Chegutu bus firm to inform workers that he had taken over the company.

However, according to workers, it was not long before Kasukuwere returned to Chegutu, this time round to inform the workers that he was scaling down operations because the business was not viable. The minister is said to have then removed all the buses to Harare, according to workers. But not before he promised workers that he would pay them severance packages ranging from $2000 to $4000. Workers told The Zimbabwean on Sunday last week they have not received the money from Kasukuwere.

One bus driver who worked for RTO for 28 years and who only identified himself as Roy said: I was amongst the first drivers at the company in 1982 and I played a big role in opening many routes. It is unfair for him (Kasukuwere) to treat me in such a way. Is this the black empowerment he represents?

Another bus driver, who preferred to speak on condition of anonymity, said: We just dont know when he is going to pay us. He put some guards at the gate and the moment we go to the office to enquire, the guards dont even allow us in.

Attempts to get comment or clarification on the matter from Kasukuwere were fruitless, as the minister refused to take questions from The Zimbabwean On Sunday.

RTO was at one time one of the most popular passenger transport firms in the country plying routes to most of the major cities and centres. But the transport firm appears to have failed to recover from the past decade of political and economic turmoil that saw several other firms across the economy downsizing or collapsing altogether.