dyton mupawaenda
Blessings Chidakwa-Municipal Reporter
Chaos prevailing in kombi operations can be overcome if the Government speeds up legislation regularising the mushrooming associations which can implement self-regulation and ensure all kombi operations are properly run using the correct termini and bus stops.
In Bulawayo, the self-regulation is a bit feasible as there are about three kombis associations operating, unlike in Harare where several associations sprout daily, although two are starting to dominate, but with wild competition from independent operators and mushikashika.
President Mnangagwa has since indicated that a statutory instrument that governs operations of commuter omnibuses would be effected.
Currently, registration of commuter omnibus associations is neither governed by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development nor Local Government and Public Works, bringing much confusion for commuters who are bearing the brunt of unjustified fare hikes, especially during peak hours.
Secretary general of one of the two large Harare associations, Greater Harare Association of Commuter Operators (GHACO), Mr Ngoni Katsvairo, said he met officials from the Local Government Ministry who indicated that they were still consulting.
“This statutory instrument was talked about by the President when he made a public statement on liberalising the transport sector in May last year,” he said. “He said regulations would follow.
“So, I think somewhere someone in the Ministry of Local Government or Ministry of Transport is not speeding up the issuance of a statutory instrument. We are appealing that if the SI can come in, it can give legal guidance and recognition of associations.”
Mr Katsvairo said some of the associations were fly-by-night with no proper members and make no attempt to regulate member services.
“We are lacking regulation of associations,” he said. “We have raised this issue with the Provincial Permanent Secretary for Harare Metropolitan, and the mayor and Town Clerk for Harare.
“We said we need to have regulation for associations as anyone now can just start any association with any objective which is not specific to the orderly operations of kombis.”
Mr Katsvairo said there was need to ensure that there was a minimum number of commuter omnibuses to start an association unlike a situation whereby someone with just five kombis can start an association.
He said the capital city can take a cue from Bulawayo.
Although small compared to Harare, Bulawayo registered only three associations, Bupta with about 1 300 kombis, Tshova Mubaiwa about 900 and Bulawayo City Transit with about 500 kombis.
“Here (Harare) anyone with five kombis can start an association. In Bulawayo you will not get a route authority letter if you don’t belong to an association,” said Mr Katsvairo.
“We can have up to five associations in Harare and these need to be operator associations since the person who applies for an operator’s license is the operator, not the driver.”
While GHACO saw nothing wrong about others forming associations, their roles should be clearly spelt out, he said.
“Drivers’ associations can be there for orderly operations of drivers, but they cannot be termed as an association that can apply for route authorities from city council,” said Mr Katsvairo.
“At GHACO, we have some customer care courses for our inspectors and teach crews good customer care and work ethics to differentiate our operations from others. Through this, we can have good rapport with our customers.”
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