Outcry over kombis lawlessness

Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent

GROWING lawlessness in the public transport sector has triggered a wave of public frustration as kombi operators continue to ignore designated ranks and create their own pick-up points, endangering commuters and clogging city roads.

Despite existing infrastructure such as bus terminuses and official stops, most kombi crews, except those affiliated with associations, routinely bypass formal systems.

In high-density areas, facilities lie in disrepair while local authorities continue collecting fees from transport operators, raising questions about accountability.

“Local authorities are quick to collect revenue from operators but slow to maintain infrastructure or enforce order,” said Mr Tafadzwa Goliati, national coordinator of the Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ), in an interview.

“We see kombis operating wherever they want, and authorities have turned a blind eye. It’s now a free-for-all.”

Mr Goliati slammed the customer care justification given by some kombi crews who claim that picking up passengers at undesignated points is for convenience.

“That is not customer care, it is chaos disguised as service. The same operators then complain about pirate taxis, yet they themselves violate the law daily,” he said.

Local residents also point to the City of Harare’s failure to provide new, well-planned bus termini equipped with basic amenities like washing bays, waiting shelters and safety zones.

“The city is growing, but there is no plan for sustainable transport infrastructure. In many new locations, no space is allocated for proper bus ranks.

“Meanwhile, passengers are treated like second-class citizens, herded into unsafe spaces and tossed around without dignity,” Mr Goliati said.

PAZ has urged councils to stop prioritising workshops and revenue collection over real service delivery.