Online Reporter
THE Government’s move to dismantle illegal touting cartels that have long held Zimbabwe’s urban transport sector hostage deserves commendation. For years, commuters and legitimate transport operators alike have suffered under a chaotic system dominated by lawlessness, extortion and disorder at bus termini. The announcement that at least 200 buses are on their way into the country under a Government-backed initiative to restore sanity to urban transport marks an important turning point in the effort to modernise public transit and reclaim order in the cities.
The revelations by the Zimbabwe Passenger Transport Organisation (ZPTO) that illegal touts have been charging operators up to 10 percent while evading tax obligations expose the depth of the rot that had become normalised in the sector. Such practices have not only burdened operators but have also indirectly punished commuters through inflated fares, intimidation and unreliable transport services. The Government therefore deserves praise for recognising that the transport sector cannot continue operating under the control of shadowy cartels that thrive on fear, corruption and disorder.
Equally commendable is the Government’s willingness to incentivise genuine investment into public transport through the suspension of duty on imported public service buses. This intervention demonstrates a practical understanding that restoring efficient urban mobility requires both policy support and significant capital investment. The push towards centralised route management and uniform operational systems could bring much-needed professionalism, reliability and accountability into the transport sector.
However, as authorities move aggressively to root out illegal operators and dismantle touting syndicates, care must be taken to ensure that compliant private players are not unfairly caught in the crossfire. Zimbabwe’s transport ecosystem has for years depended on resilient entrepreneurs who, despite difficult economic conditions, have invested heavily in providing transport services while following the law.
Operators such as Tshova Mubaiwa and others like him represent the kind of responsible private sector participation that should be protected and encouraged. These are businesspeople who acquire licences, pay taxes, comply with municipal regulations and contribute meaningfully to employment creation and service delivery. It would be deeply unfortunate if, in the understandable enthusiasm to clean up the sector, authorities create an environment that frustrates legitimate operators through unnecessary bureaucracy, arbitrary enforcement or exclusion from the emerging transport framework.
The reality is that Government alone cannot solve Zimbabwe’s urban transport challenges without strong partnerships with disciplined private operators. Sustainable public transport systems across the world thrive on collaboration between the State and compliant private investors. Zimbabwe must therefore avoid approaches that appear punitive towards all private transport players merely because some rogue elements have polluted the sector.
What is needed is balanced regulation anchored on fairness, transparency and consistency. Law-abiding operators must enjoy security of investment, predictable regulations and protection from criminal cartels. Equally, authorities must ensure that rank allocation systems, route management and licensing procedures are free from corruption and political interference.
The battle against illegal touting cartels is long overdue and deserves overwhelming public support. But the success of this initiative will ultimately depend on Government’s ability not only to remove criminality from the transport sector, but also to build an environment where compliant transport operators can thrive with dignity and confidence.
Zimbabwe’s urban transport future must be orderly, professional and inclusive – one in which lawlessness is defeated, commuters are protected and responsible businesspeople are empowered rather than sidelined.
