Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday commissioned 76 Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) buses in Bulawayo and said that the country would receive 1 500 more buses from China “soon”.

Mnangagwa has previously commissioned new ZUPCO fleet on more than one occasion and continues to do so, raising questions if he is trying to steal the limelight from transport minister Biggie Matiza.

This time Mnangagwa took the scissors to Bulawayo where he ordered that the buses be deployed to rural Matebeleland areas where residents are reportedly experiencing transport challenges.

While other Presidents are officially launching major projects such as bullet trains in Rwanda, Mnangagwa sees new ZUPCO buses as an achievement to talk about.

Mnangagwa said the government was in the process of importing 1500 buses from China to increase the ZUPCO fleet to be able to cover the whole country.

“About 1 500 buses are expected to come from China and 300 of those will come in knocked down parts which will be assembled here in Zimbabwe to create employment,” he said.