Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
BEFORE its closure for renovations in 2020, Kudzanayi long distance bus terminus in Gweru had more than 3 000 vendors against its holding capacity then of about 1 000 vendors.
The other 2 000 vendors were not paying rentals, thereby prejudicing the local authority of much-needed revenue.
The terminus was also home to hundreds of touts who were a menace to the public, especially women.
There were also many thieves and pick-pockets who preyed on travellers.
Last year Gweru City Council demolished all vending stalls in the central business district and at Kudzanayi long-distance bus terminus.
The vendors were relocated to an open space opposite Mtapa Police Station.
This followed a Cabinet directive instructing all local authorities to remove vending and flea market sites in the CBD as part of measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.
GCC signed two contracts with two construction companies worth about US$6 million for the construction of four smart city markets and travel ports which included Kudzanayi long distance bus terminus.
Bentach Resources renovated Kudzanayi long distance bus terminus while Casas Properties Investments is renovating Kombayi vegetable wholesale market, Wimpy market and Mtapa market.
The council said when the terminus is opened for buses, touts will not be allowed inside the terminus and only vendors with stalls are allowed to operate inside the new-look terminus.
The rentals paid by vendors is shared between GCC and the developer.
At full throttle, the terminus will be able to accommodate 800 vendors and more than 400 buses.
The terminus has attracted interest from other local authorities and last week, the Minister of State for Provincial
Affairs and Devolution for Manicaland province Nokhuthula Matsikenyeri and Mutare City councillors and management led by the Mayor Councillor Blessing Tandi were in Gweru to learn how council implemented the project.
The team toured the rank and other projects that the council is implementing to improve the welfare of its residents.
Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Larry Mavima said GCC was working closely with the Government and this has enabled it to implement projects such as the New look Kudzanayi bus terminus to improve the welfare of residents.
“After the first lockdown, Cabinet issued a directive that local authorities revamp such facilities which had become an eyesore. I invited the mayor and he said we can’t defy a directive. We sat down and agreed that the mayor seeks concurrence with the full council and they agreed to implement the Cabinet directive. A resolution was made and we agreed to start something new in line with vision 2030 as espoused by President Mnangagwa,” he said.
Minister Mavima said companies were invited to express their interest in developing Kudzanayi long distance bus and the market.
“Four companies submitted bids and had their own designs which they submitted to GCC and two companies were selected,” he said.
Minister Mavima urged all vendors allocated stalls to pay their rentals to enable council to provide the required services.
“There is no free lunch, people should know that they cannot use council facilities for free. If you want good services, you have to pay. At the new Kudzanayi long distance bus terminus if you don’t pay rentals, you get evicted. Local authorities are failing to deliver because people want free services. Residents should play their part by paying for services so that they get quality service,” he said.
Minister Mavima commended the Mayor Councillor Josiah Makombe and Management led by acting town clerk Mr Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe for working well with the Government in improving service delivery.
Clr Makombe commended the good working relationship between his council and central Government.
“The mandate for council is to provide quality service and facilitate development in the city and that is what we are striving to do,” said Clr Makombe.
He said the Government directive empowered the council to clean the city and provide quality stalls at Kudzanayi bus terminus where all vendors are now paying rentals.
Bentach Resources project manager, Mr David Kudakwashe said they have opened the vending stalls to the public but have only accommodated 20 percent to avoid congestion.
“We have opened the new Kudzanayi Bus Terminus but accommodated only 20 percent of the terminus’ capacity in line with the Covid-19 regulations. There won’t be any touts allowed in the terminus which means peace and tranquillity to the travelling public.
There are cameras in and around the terminus to monitor what is happening at all times. Buses will park at their designated bays, their coming in and out will be controlled electronically. Touts have been a menace hence the decision to shut them out,” said Mr Kudakwashe.
Minister Matsikenyeri said they were in Gweru to appreciate what the local authority had done so that they also do it in Mutare.
“We came to look, listen and learn how Gweru City Council and private players are implementing these projects,” she said.
A vending stall is charged between $150 to $400 per day while kombis and buses will be paying between $1 500 to $2 000 per day.
Vendors dealing in vegetables are paying $300 per day while merchandisers pay $400 per day.
Hardware and mini-shops will pay $650 per day while those roasting maize cobs and groundnuts pay $150 per day, all the fees were pegged in consultation with the vendors.
Long-distance buses will be paying $1 500 for using the bays while cross-border buses will be forking out $2 000.
derick.khumalo