ESWATINI FIRST TO DEPLOY FREE TRANSPORT IN AFRICA

MBABANE – Eswatini is the first country in Africa to deploy free public transport after workers  boycotted work.

Several countries, including those with a stable economy in the African continent, have not been able to provide free transport during strikes and unrests. In most countries in Africa, when public transport workers boycotted work, all operations in the country were interrupted and the country came to a standstill. Government deployed buses on two days; December 15 and 16, to ferry the publicto their destinations. The then Acting Prime Minister, Themba Masuku, said many people had taken advantage of the facility and disputed that they only carried three or four people. He stated that the buses had several stops along the routes. In as much as the free transport was a response to an emergency, the country made history in  offering free transport to the nation.

In other countries where the State owns a certain percentage of the public transport sector, even State- owned buses are parked during such disturbances. However, in some instances this depends on whether the strike is violent or not. In other countries in Africa, such as South Africa, Tunisia and Morroco, the State and some departments own some buses, especially those servicing long-distance routes. The mini-buses and metre taxi industry is largely owned by private owners. Despite the governments owning  a portion of the public transport sector, the transport is never free. The only free transport is in other continents such as Asia and Europe.

Unsuccessful

According to Transport Geography System, several countries had attempted zero-fare systems, but many of these implementations had been judged unsuccessful by policy makers.
The National Centre for Transportation Research report suggests that, while transit ridership does tend to increase, there were some disadvantages which included an increase in vandalism, resulting in increased costs for security and vehicle-maintenance. There was also noted significant revenue shortfalls, unless additional funding was provided. According to the researchers, these zero fares were funded by private businesses, such as the merchants in shopping malls, in the hope that doing so would increase sales or other revenue from increased foot traffic or ease of travel. Employers often operated free shuttles as a benefit to their employees, or as part of a congestion mitigation agreement with a local government.

The community benefits include a decreased congestion and faster average road speeds, fewer traffic accidents, easier parking, savings from reduced wear and tear on roads, increased public access, especially for the poor and low waged, which can in turn benefit social integration, businesses and those looking for work. Environmental and public health benefits including decreased air pollution and noise pollution from road traffic.

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