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Remember Deketeke, Herald Reporter
Bus operators have slammed the Harare City Council for failing to refurbish bus terminuses for decades, describing the new rank fares as another looting scheme without any services being provided.
This comes as the state of infrastructure at the bus stations continues to deteriorate across the city as a result of successive years of neglect by the opposition-led council.
Greater Harare Association of Commuter Omnibus Operators secretary general Mr Ngoni Katsvairo said the new rank fares were meant to create more avenues to loot public funds.
“Council has been failing to renovate and upgrade the ranks, this is despite most operators forking out US$92 of ranks fees per term,” he said.
“Any changes must be made with due notice and in terms of the Urban Council Act procedures.”
Zimbabwe Passengers Transport Organisation chairman Dr Sam Nhanhanga denounced city council for failing to provide proper service to the people.
“Council has failed to erect and modify the already existing structures at different ranks over the past years,” he said. “As transporters our bone of contention with them has been the collecting of rank fees without developing the ranks. No rank in Harare has shelters, neither do they have toilets with running water.
”Mbare, of all the ranks has one non-working toilet but per day more than 5 000 people use the rank.”
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume conceded that there is need to upgrade the termini.
“As council we should start renovating and upgrading our infrastructure at Copacabana, Market Square, Charge Office and Simon Muzenda Street ranks to meet the demands of the day,” he said. Mayor Mafume said council used to collect rank disc fees from private commuter omnibus operators but the money has not been getting into council coffers. “They are forcing all buses to crowd at Mbare rank which is too small to accommodate all buses,” he said.
Mayor Mafume ordered all buses plying intercity routes to return to their original bus ranks to try and decongest central Harare.
Online Reporter