The traders, who were previously paying $30 for a return trip to Musina, are now paying $45 for the same route.
A snap survey at Fourth Street in Harare’s Roadport cross-border bus terminus revealed that the majority of the buses were now charging the higher fare.
According to the Poverty Income Consumption and Expenditure Survey 2011/12 report by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, at least 3.7 million Zimbabweans are involved in informal sector activities.
Danai Mtetwa from Unit D in Chitungwiza said the fare hike had affected the number of trips she makes to South Africa.
“I do not travel as frequently as I used to because the fares are too much,” she said.
Mtetwa told The Zimbabwean that high fares had negatively impacted her business because she was forced to increase the prices of some of her commodities.
A commuter bus operator who spoke on condition of anonymity said the charge was also fuelled by the ever-increasing number of cross-border shoppers.
“Demand for transport to Musina is very high. Shoppers no longer hike or use private transport because of the fear of being robbed. We are now being overwhelmed by the high influx of shoppers to Musina because people are stocking up before elections,” he said.
Another cross boarder trader, Jairos Gwavava from Mabvuku, said bus operators were maximising on luggage charges. He said that one bus company (name withheld) had recently put up posts indicating that there was an 800 rands fee for transporting a fridge from Musina to Harare.
“It is shocking. Such costs will force us out of business because there are other costs to consider before we are able to sell them to our customers,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer for Cross Boarder Bus Operators Association, Alex Kautsiro, said the fares were justified. He said because the charges for luggage were at the discretion of commuter omnibus operators.
“Dialogue is the only way forward and we can assist with that to ensure that traders are charged fair prices for their luggage,” he added.
Post published in: News