Online Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Republic Police did a remarkable job on Harare’s roads over the Easter holiday and their operation showed that order can easily be restored if it becomes a regular feature.
One of the operations included the removal of travellers from undesignated pick-up points on roads leading out of the central business district.
Harare’s roads have increasingly become scenes of disorder, confusion and danger, largely driven by the chaotic manner in which public transport is accessed.
Every day, commuters hail kombis and pirate taxis from virtually anywhere — intersections, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and even the middle of busy roads. While attention has often been directed at errant drivers, it is becoming increasingly clear that restoring order requires addressing the other side of the equation: passengers who deliberately seek transport from undesignated points. It is therefore time for police in Harare to consider making arrests of such offenders a consistent and regular exercise.
The problem of illegal pick-up and drop-off points has grown into a major contributor to traffic congestion and road accidents in the city. Kombi drivers frequently stop abruptly in the middle of the road when waved down by commuters.
This forces vehicles behind them to brake suddenly or swerve into other lanes, creating hazardous situations for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike. The ripple effect is often gridlock, particularly during peak hours when the volume of both traffic and commuters is at its highest.
However, drivers do not act alone in creating this chaos. Many commuters knowingly signal vehicles from places where stopping is clearly unsafe or prohibited.
Some do so out of convenience, hoping to avoid walking a few extra metres to a designated rank or bus stop. Others simply follow the crowd, normalising behaviour that undermines traffic regulations and public safety.
Law enforcement efforts have traditionally focused on drivers — particularly kombi operators who stop at illegal points. While this is necessary, it addresses only half the problem.
As long as commuters continue to demand transport from undesignated points, drivers will remain tempted to violate the law in order to secure passengers and maintain income in a highly competitive transport sector.
This is why a broader enforcement approach is needed. Arresting or fining passengers who solicit transport from illegal points would send a clear message that road discipline is a shared responsibility. When commuters realise that they too risk penalties, they are more likely to comply with the law and use designated pick-up areas.
Such enforcement would not be without precedent. In many cities around the world, passengers who board public transport outside approved stops can be fined for contributing to unsafe traffic behaviour. These measures are not meant to punish commuters unnecessarily, but rather to encourage orderly and predictable traffic flow.
In Harare’s case, the need for decisive action is even more pressing. The city’s central business district has become notorious for roadside chaos, with kombis stopping almost anywhere to load passengers.
Traffic officers often struggle to maintain order as waves of commuters gather at undesignated points, effectively creating informal ranks that were never planned for or regulated.
Regular enforcement targeting both drivers and passengers would help dismantle this culture of lawlessness. Police patrols could focus on known hotspots where illegal boarding is common. Even a few well-publicised arrests or fines could have a powerful deterrent effect, encouraging commuters to change their habits.
derick.khumalo