Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is set to erect barricades along 6th Avenue Extension in a move aimed at curbing rampant illegal pick-up and drop-off activities that have turned the corridor into a transport free-for-all.
The intervention, proposed during a recent full council meeting and adopted, marks a shift from policy formulation to physical enforcement, as councillors push for practical measures to restore order in the city’s troubled public transport sector.
For years, 6th Avenue Extension has become a hotspot for illegal ranks, with commuter omnibus crews and pirate taxis openly flouting regulations — a situation councillors said is undermining both commuter safety and the viability of formal operators.
Ward 10 councillor Khalazani Ndlovu said while council had made commendable progress in crafting a public transport policy, the lack of visible enforcement had emboldened errant operators.
She singled out VUTA (Pvt) Ltd for allegedly continuing to use an illegal pick-up point along 6th Avenue, despite entering into a service level agreement with the local authority.
Ward 14 councillor Dumisani Netha warned that public transport operators utilising illegal pick and drop off points would be dealt with as per the provisions of the law and the Public Transport Policy.
He bemoaned councillors and council staff who used these illegal pick-up and drop-off points in the city, saying barricades would serve as both a control measure and a clear signal that the local authority is moving to reclaim order in the city centre.
“Barricades should be erected along 6th Avenue Extension,” said Cllr Netha.
Ward 28 councillor Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu said weak enforcement had allowed transport operators to manipulate the system, often creating artificial shortages that push fares beyond reach for ordinary commuters.
“As a result, residents travelling to suburbs like Cowdray Park and Pumula South are now paying as much as US$2 per trip during peak hours,” he said.
Cllr Ndlovu added that the proliferation of unregistered and unbranded commuter omnibuses operating from illegal points — including 6th Avenue Extension — was compromising commuter safety and eroding confidence in the formal transport system.
The councillors noted Cowdray Park was shared by BCTT and BUPTA, but the two companies had failed to service the area well, resulting in the proliferation of illegal ranks/ pick up and drop off areas in the city.
The problem extends beyond a single corridor. Councillors highlighted the spread of unauthorised pick-up points around the City Hall and near Tredgold, further straining efforts to enforce order.
Ward 29 councillor Royini Sekete said infrastructure measures must be complemented by behavioural reforms within the sector, noting that discipline among kombi crews remains a major concern.
Ward 22 councillor Mmeli Thobeka Moyo said fragmented coordination among council departments was weakening enforcement efforts, allowing illegal operators to thrive.
He observed that the five contracted public transport companies had failed to adequately service the city, particularly during peak periods when commuters are often left stranded.
“There is a need to introduce more public transport players, while existing companies must expand their fleets and improve customer relations,” he said.
Cllr Moyo noted that the elimination of illegal taxis, commonly known as “mushikashika,” would only be possible through consistent and uncompromising enforcement of the policy.
Bulawayo mayor Councillor David Coltart acknowledged the concerns, saying council has been engaging transport operators regularly, although implementation of agreed measures remains inconsistent.
“These meetings had yielded positive results. A number of resolutions were passed, but still not implemented. This was also arising from the council’s committee chairpersons and management’s monthly meetings. Committee Chairpersons had tried to find out from the management challenges in resolution implementation,” he said.
Ward 3 councillor Mxolisi Mahlangu said the barricade proposal aligns with the broader goal of protecting commuters and restoring sanity to the transport system.
He warned that illegal operators and so-called “space barons,” particularly those operating near City Hall, would soon face a crackdown as council moves to enforce compliance.
Cllr Netha echoed the need for decisive action, warning that operators who continue to defy regulations — especially along 6th Avenue Extension — would face the full force of the law.
He also took a swipe at councillors and council employees who patronise illegal ranks, saying their actions undermine efforts to bring discipline to the sector.
The planned erection of barricades is expected to complement ongoing efforts to streamline operations at the Egodini Terminus, which remains central to Bulawayo’s long-term public transport strategy.
