BUSES IN ZAMBIA

Volume 38 No 374 May 1986

Bruce Harris and Alan Mortimer

Zambia's buses offer several surprises: travelling into Lusaka, the capital city, from the airport, RTs, Bristol Lodekkas and Daimler Fleetlines can be observed in service, alongside the Government’s Renaults.

At one time, bus services in Zambia were provided by United Transport Overseas. which still operates in many parts of the African continent However, the Zambian operations were nationalised though the United name was retained. United Bus Zambia is more commonly known by its initials UBZ and provides bus services throughout the country, in cities, towns and on interurban and country routes. The main centres of operations are in Lusaka, and in the copperbelt area in the north of the country around the Kitwe and Ndola area with its large mining industry.

Zambia is forced into an unenviable situation of having to obtain loans from more viable countries. Thus, when a loan is obtained, products of the lending country are expected to be purchased. This reflects on UBZ by the large variety of makes of bus from different countries; at the end of 1982, seven makes of bus were in the fleet. Naturally, such variety creates spare parts problems, a situation exacerbated by restrictions on foreign exchange. Thus, if parts cannot be purchased from a foreign manufacturer, buses are cannibalised. the fleet strength reduced and again more buses are required.

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