By Zenak Matekenya

Dedza, August 8, Mana:  Dedza District Council Director of Administration, Dr. Chris Salaniponi says rehabilitation of five Kilometres Dedza ring road will compel bus operators to resume using Dedza bus depot.

The depot has a fence, security personnel, flush toilets, a waiting area, waste bins, a concrete slab, shops, a nearby fueling station and other basic needs for passengers and operators, but was shunned for about three years due to poor road condition.

“When the road is complete, it will be business as usual. Buses will be compelled to go through the town unlike now, where they pass through the main road,” he said.

He said the council stands to benefit through revenue collected from the bus operators using the bus depot.

“It has been quite long since we stopped collecting revenues from the depot.  But I know that resuming the depot operation is going to boost revenue collection for the district,” he said.

Public Transport Association of Malawi chairperson, Moses Chauluka says 10 to 15 buses operate on daily bases between Blantyre and Lilongwe and pay an average of MK3,000 for each stop they make at a district bus depot.

“We see no problem for buses to pass through the bus depot. The purpose of diverting through the bus depot is to serve the passengers, so we see no problem,” said Chauluka.

Dedza bus depot Chairperson, Alex Maudzu, said most business at the depot are on the verge of collapsing due to lack of business after buses stopped using the depot.