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Innocent Ruwende Municipal Reporter
Urban transport operators have asked Harare to reduce the fee charged for rank discs in its 2018 budget in line with Government’s Ease of Doing Business policy, as well as reinvest some of the money in bus termini shades, lighting and new ranks.
The city last week began the 2018 pre-budget consultations with various stakeholders to solicit views on how the city’s funds will be administered.
Greater Harare Association of Commuter Operators secretary-general Mr Ngoni Katsvairo said council should cascade the Government policy to the commuter omnibus transport sector.
“Council should do away with the Route Authority Form fee of $100 per year, which is too expensive, given we also get an official route permit from the Ministry of Transport,” he said.
“We want to take this opportunity to applaud the Ministry of Transport for proposing to reduce their permit fee from the current $75 per year.
“The same permit costs R300 in South Africa. Given the state of our ranks, it is unjustifiable for council to continue charging $300 per year for rank discs, they must reduce this to about $225 and at the same time reinvest this in shades and lighting in ranks as well as in new ranks.”
Mr Katsvairo said council should assist kombi operators with non-monetary ease of doing business policies like allowing back street ranks around all official ranks, in order for kombi operators not to lose business to pirate taxis and unregistered transporters.
He said council should understand that the country’s economy was now mainly informal and passengers did not have the time to go to ranks, but want to get their transport from the nearest street.
Online Reporter