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operators hiked fares to as much as US$2 in some routes.
The kombi crews claimed they raised the fares from US50 cents to between US$1 and US$ 2 because they wanted to raise money to pay traffic police. The most affected commuters were from Epworth, Msasa Park and Hatfield. Chitungwiza kombi crews joined in the protest fares later in the day. However, Harare police spokesperson James Sabau, said they will not be intimidated by the operators’ stance.
People had to walk into town in the morning and the situation remained the same until in the evening. The kombi crews claimed police roadblocks were now money spinning ventures for traffic cops. They also claimed that kombis belonging to police officers were operating undisturbed. A commuter omnibus driver, Mr Tafadzwa Madzi, yesterday said they parked their vehicles in Epworth and in the city centre to protest against the police.
“It is better we park our vehicles and resume operations when there are proper police checkpoints. At least one roadblock is reasonable from Epworth to the city centre,” he said.
Mr Elias Uranda, one of the commuters affected yesterday, said roadblocks should be reduced to reasonable numbers.
“We do not blame the police for mounting roadblocks but they are now too many to the extent that we have to stop more than five times before we get to the city,” he said.
Commuters who managed to get in town using open trucks were stuck at Fourth Street and Rezende Street ranks as the commuter omnibuses continued with their protest.
A commuter at the Rezende rank Ms Lucia Moyo, said the commuter omnibuses from other routes offered to ferry them for $2.
“We are all stuck here because kombi drivers have suspended operations. In the morning we were ferried by some trucks. Other kombis are offering to ferry us but the fares are too high. They have doubled fares three-fold,” she said.
Insp Sabau said the roadblocks were necessary to compel operators to regularise their operations. He said of the 4 500 commuter omnibuses operating in Harare, only 1 000 were on the road legally.
“We do not accept people who operate illegally. Our duty as police officers is to ensure that commuters are being ferried by roadworthy vehicles,” he said.
He said the police were having problems with those operators refusing to regularise their operations.
“This exercise in our view is going to compel all operators to regularise their papers so that our commuting public move safely. The problem we are having is with those who do not have any papers,” he said.
Insp Sabau said the police will maintain their presence on the road. He said they will start impounding kombis of those operators refusing to comply with the law.
Chairman of the Urban Transport Operators Association of Zimbabwe, Mr Wilbert Zhakata, urged transport operators to comply with the law.
Online Reporter