adminNduduzo Tshuma Senior Reporter
MORE than 300 kombi owners have registered with two transport companies in line with the Bulawayo City Council’s (BCC) public transport policy which requires them to fall under two registered organisations, officials revealed yesterday. Speaking at the City of Bulawayo’s public transport implementation strategy workshop held at the Large City Hall, Bulawayo Public Transporters Association Limited representative Albert Ncube said more than 280 members had bought share certificates in the company.
Tshova Mbaiwa Limited representative Samson Mabunda told Chronicle on the sidelines of the workshop that despite the slow up take from their organisation, the more than 100 members had warmed to the idea.
Ncube said Bulawayo residents stood to benefit from the formation of the companies as that would ensure accountability in the sector.
He said both Bupta Ltd and Tshova Mbaiwa Ltd wanted a system that was orderly and respects the rights of passengers.
“Even during elections there is one command centre where things are coordinated from. This will be our command centre that will bring order into the sector,” said Ncube.
He said there was a misconception that all kombis fell under Bupta and called on operators to join any of the two companies.
“We have had a lot of great ideas that had been hard to implement because we are fragmented. The drivers will be employed in the office and not by individuals so that we ensure that they have the requisite documents,” said Ncube.
He said they would also propose to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe to introduce public relations as part of their defensive drivers’ course for smooth interaction with passengers.
“We are signing a legal contract with the Bulawayo City Council that will ensure that we deliver what is required of us and that there will be a review after a period of time to ensure that we abide by the set rules,” said Ncube.
He said as an organisation, they had a route accident fund that assists in compensating accident victims but only a few routes benefitted because some operators were not keen on joining.
Bulawayo Mayor Martin Moyo called for unity and cooperation in the implementation of the public transport policy.
“In the run up to the World Cup in South Africa, there was so much noise about the metro buses but it has since died down. At times when there is change, people become suspicious but let us work together in making sure that this policy is successfully implemented,” he said.
A representative from the police Inspector Vusumuzi Baloyi said they hoped that the policy would not only help decongest the central business district but also ensure adherence to traffic regulations.
Bulawayo United Residents Association representative Samuel Moyo commended the initiative but called for wider consultations with residents on the matter.
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association board member Anglistone Sibanda echoed Moyo’s sentiments saying it was important that the generality of the city’s residents had input into the matter.
derick.khumalo