Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) dismissed over 100 bus conductors, with several being prosecuted in the courts, in the first four months of this year in a ticket scam that was bleeding the transport utility.

The Herald understands that the conductors would issue the same tickets to different passengers, enabling them to pocket large sums of money.

The pilferage resulted in the firm strengthening its inspectorate teams and planting informers.

Recently, Zupco introduced the “tap-and-go” electronic payment system that will be mounted on its fleet, which will run to 3 000 at peak as the country introduces a mass public transportation system.

Investigations by The Herald established that in some cases, a conductor would pocket fares for the whole 75-seater bus after issuing out old tickets.

Some people blamed Zupco for recruiting degreed staff, some with master’s degrees as conductors, who were advanced in terms of fraud.

Among those arrested and taken to the Harare Magistrates’ Court was a law student, who had deferred studies to raise college fees.

An impeccable source said most cases involved re-issuance of old tickets to passengers.State media