Lochview residents hit hard by fare hikes as roads crumble

By Ndumiso Tshuma
Residents of Lochview, Bulawayo, have expressed outrage over a recent fare hike by Expricoss Transport Association, a popular local transport service.
The increase, which took effect on Monday, saw fares double from the usual 10 Rand (or US$0.50) to 20 Rand (or US$1), leaving many residents struggling to afford daily commutes.
The fare hike has been attributed to the deteriorating condition of roads in the area, which has made transportation increasingly costly for drivers.
Bekhumusa Moyo, a local teacher and daily commuter, described the increase as unjustified and burdensome.
โWeโre already battling rising living costs, and now weโre expected to pay double just to get home. Itโs unsustainable for many of us,โ Moyo lamented.
Shadreck Ngulube, a father of three, echoed these sentiments, explaining that the higher fares have placed a heavy financial strain on his family.
โI can barely make ends meet as it is, and now every trip cuts deeper into my already tight budget. My three children need transport to and from school daily, and I simply cannot afford this increase. We need the Bulawayo City Council to fix these roads because thereโs nothing we, as residents, can do,โ Ngulube said.
Other residents, like Emmanuel Gumbo, criticised both the transport association and the local authority, calling for a collaborative solution to address the root cause of the problem.
โThis situation is unacceptable for a service that depends on the community. What we need now is a partnership between residents, Expricoss, and the council to improve the roads. That would benefit everyone,โ said Gumbo.
The chairperson of Expricoss Transport Association, Mpikelelo Ngangezwe Khumalo, defended the fare increase, citing the financial toll that the poor road conditions have taken on their operations.
โWeโve had multiple discussions with the mayor about the urgent need for road repairs, but we were told thereโs a delay because theyโre waiting for a specific contractor. Meanwhile, our vehicles suffer constant damage,โ Khumalo said.
Khumalo explained that frequent repairs, particularly to suspensions, have significantly impacted their profitability.
โWe have to replace car suspensions every two days, and Chinese spare parts are extremely expensive. Most of our vehicles are in poor condition because of these roads. We had no choice but to raise pricesโitโs no longer profitable to operate in Lochview,โ he added.