adminArron Nyamayaro
ALL the toilets at Mbare Musika are OUT OF ORDER.
This was confirmed by City planner, Brian Zvomuya, at a meeting between the Harare City Council and transports operators on Wednesday.
The city fathers were blasted by transport operators for failing to provide bus ranks ahead of the Christmas holidays.
Zvomuya was taken to task during a question-and-answer session at a meeting organised to help reduce road carnage this holiday.
Zimbabwe Passenger Transport Organisation (ZPTO) chairperson, Samuel Nhanhanga, asked Zvomuya where they wanted bus operators to rank if Mbare Musika remains idle.
“To be honest, we are yet to provide better bus ranks ahead of holidays,” said Zvomuya.
“We are aware that there is no toilet functioning at Mbare Musika, but this does not give bus drivers an excuse to park everywhere.
“We appreciate efforts shown by transport operators at Mbare Musika rank, despite our failure to take it to the desired position, for buses and travellers.
“We have been engaging with the Ministry of Local Government for a possible solution, and that is where our focus is on at the moment.
“As for the coming holiday, we failed, but a holding bay near Colcom can be used as an alternative.”
Harare province Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) Chief Inspector, Bridget Chimhau, urged the Council to act with speed in sorting out ranks, as some buses have turned residential streets into ranks.
“The failure by the City of Harare has become a threat to the girl child since some bus drivers have turned Hopley suburbs’ streets to load travellers,” said Chimhau.
“Mabhazi anoenda neMasvingo Road ave kutakurira pakati pedzimba zvekuti hatichaziva nenyaya dzirikunyuka dzekuti vanasikana vanemikaka pamhuno vowanikwa vave nemimba kuti zvirikukonzerwa nei.
“We are appealing for immediate action in providing decent ranks for buses.”
She also urged transport operators to caution their drivers and to take them for vehicle fitness refresher courses.
“It’s easy to accuse police or VID inspectors of taking bribes but it takes two to tango.
“Let’s all stop corruption.
“A vehicle not fit for the road must not find its way out of the garage to risk people’s lives for the love of money.
“We want to see people going for holidays and returning alive,” she said.
She warned transport operators that the VID and the police were going to come up with a list of offenders during the holiday and expose them.
Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe director, Claudius Muzuva, said their officials were going to conduct awareness campaigns in buses to help reduce road accidents.
Online Reporter