BCC limits number of public transport operators

Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor

THE City of Bulawayo has decided to collaborate with a maximum number of public transport operator companies as part of its Public Transport Policy, aimed at improving the urban public transport sector.

Adopted in October 2012, the City of Bulawayo Public Transport Policy was designed to create a structured system for managing, operating, monitoring, and evaluating the city’s public transport network.

A key feature of the policy is the establishment of either a single well-registered company to oversee the public transport system or a limited number of companies, each responsible for specific areas of the city.

Recognised operators are required to adhere to a service level agreement involving the company, the council, and residents’ associations.
Initially, the local authority partnered with three companies: Bulawayo Urban Passenger Transport Association (BUPTA), Tshova-Mubaiwa, and Bulawayo City Transit Trust (BCTT). Recently, the local authority approved an application from Vuka Uzimele Transport Association (VUTA), allowing it to become the fourth company legally permitted to operate on the city’s routes.

According to the latest council report, the city has since received an application from Bulawayo West Transporters (Pvt) Ltd to become the fifth company allowed to operate.

“Bulawayo West Transporters was established in 2024. The formation of the association was necessitated by the gradual growth of the city hence the need to improve the transport services in the city. The existing policy was crafted in 2012 and since then the city townships have expanded.

“The introduction of another taxi association will break monopolistic tendencies and create a competitive market for the Bulawayo residents as well as employment aiming at gender balance. What we are seeking is within the legal instruments, as the constitution states that every person has freedom of assembly and association. There are four associations already in existence but we feel we cannot associate with them because their branding and daily charge is expensive,” reads a letter from the association.

In accepting the new association’s application the local authority noted that the city will be divided into five sectors and allocate routes to each company, with the sector allocated to each company taking into account the population of the area and the number of vehicles operating under each company for purposes of equitable allocation.

“It was therefore resolved to recommend that authority be granted for the inclusion of Bulawayo West Transporters (Pvt) Ltd as the fifth company providing public transport within the City in line with the Public transport policy provisions.

“That Bulawayo West Transporters (Pvt) Ltd to be the last company to be considered for inclusion so that the number of companies remains at five, council draws up a Service Level Agreement with the fifth public transport company BUWTRA and that the Service Level Agreement shall spell out the expected level of operation and the routes to be serviced by each company,” reads the report.