adminVusumuzi Dube Municipal Reporter
COMMUTER omnibus operators risk losing their operating certificates if they continue to resist joining two companies that have been set up by the Bulawayo City Council, amid revelations that some operators are giving the local authority “conditions” before they accept the newly formulated Bulawayo Public Transport Policy. The policy was crafted in 2011 and came into effect early this year. It has seen the formation of two companies — Bulawayo Public Transport Association (Bupta) and Tshova Mubaiwa — which all commuter omnibus operators are supposed to register with.
In the latest development, some operators are reportedly resisting joining the two companies, instead insisting that they prefer to operate as individuals.
However, the local authority has insisted that it will not be deterred from implementing the policy, noting that they had already achieved milestones inclusive of the training of commuter omnibus crews and the introduction of uniforms.
Responding to written questions from Sunday News, BCC senior public relations officer Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said if commuter omnibus operators continued to resist they risk being kicked out and have their routes tendered out to the highest bidder.
“Operators are not resisting forming or joining companies but rather some operators wish to do so on their own terms. Meetings continue to be held to try and bring all operators on board. The northern and eastern areas are now a unified entity ready for the next phase of the programme.
“Operators in some of the western areas are still fragmented and if this stance persists these areas will be tendered out to the highest bidder. It should be noted that the programme aims to bring sanity, safety and convenience to the traveling public and its success will mean a better Bulawayo for us all,” said Mrs Mpofu.
She said they were closely working with operators who were complying with the policy in further fine tuning the designated routes.
“Companies are now consolidating their operations in the areas where they had their trial runs. Tshova Mubaiwa is consolidating their operations in the area between Khami and Plumtree roads whereas Bupta is consolidating their operations in the rest of the city.
“Council is working with these companies to fine tune the routes in these areas and residents associations are being encouraged to give their input in the fine tuning of routes,” said Mrs Mpofu.
Commenting on the hold-up, Bupta secretary-general Mr Albert Ncube said they were waiting for the local authority to get back to them with a possible way forward.
Efforts to get a comment from Tshova Mubaiwa transport company chairperson Mr Samson Mabunda were fruitless as his mobile phone was not reachable.
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter