Planned mass bus system riles kombi operators

capital.
They argue the move will elbow out small businesses operating under difficult conditions.
But, ordinary commuters feel the move is welcome as they are tired of abuse at the hands of commuter bus operators and their crews.
Commuter omnibus operators feel the move will kill the indigenisation agenda as small operators will be kicked out.
But when Government de-regularised the transport sector, the idea was to allow the small operators to grow their businesses to provide a reliable mass bus transport system.
The city wants commuter omnibuses outlawed because they have failed to address the city’s transport problems.
Commuter Omnibus Operators Association chairman Mr Aaron Tapfuma said council should not exclude indigenous transport operators in the deal.
He said locals, in accordance with the country’s indigenisation laws, should run the transport business.
“As Ashok Layland is coming, there should be an indigenous component in the deal. Instead of promoting foreigners, council and Government should capacitate the local businesspeople in the transport industry.
“If they exclude us, we will become redundant,” said Mr Tapfuma.
A transport operator, Mr Innocent Hamandishe, who is also Zanu PF Youth League secretary for Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment said the local transport sector was reserved for locals.
He said bringing in foreigners was against the Government policy.
“Schedule 3 (2010) Regulations Supporting the Implementation of Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act clearly states that the local transport sector is for locals. The move by (Mayor) Masunda to invite Indians on our roads is against the indigenisation drive,” he said.
Mr Hamandishe said there were 5 000 kombis in Harare and over 10 000 people risked losing jobs if the deal was approved. He said if the Indian company was genuine about investing in the country, it should have come in during the Zimbabwe dollar era.
“When times were tough why did they not come to invest here? If Ashok Leyland is sincere in its dealings, why can’t it invite Zupco to ply the routes in New Delhi? Masunda is calling for a war and we will stone those buses the moment they arrive in this country,” he said.
Zanu-PF Youth League secretary for security, Cde John Mushayi, said youths will not sit and watch while the council frustrated indigenisation and empowerment.
“We will demonstrate if they want to proceed with this agenda of giving foreigners control. They did that with Easipark but this time we will not let them push our people out of employment,” Cde Mushayi said.
“This has nothing to do with politics but issues that affect the youths across the divide. We have to unite as youths to push for issues that affect all of us regardless of political affiliation.”
Mr Kurai Masenyama, who is the director of indeginisation in the National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board, said his organisation was not against the move but should involve Zimbabweans in the transport sector.
“We are not against the idea of bigger buses plying the city routes but that deal can only go ahead if it involves local transport operators. (Mayor) Masunda has a history of defying indigenisation since Easipark. This announcement by (Mayor) Masunda is one of the usual MDC antics to promote imperialism,” he said.
Commuters, however, welcomed the deal saying it will ease transport problems in the city.
They said commuter omnibus operators were giving them a raw deal and the entry of other companies will provide competition.
Ms Kudzai Janyure of Seke in Chitungwiza said the deal should have been approved a long time ago.
“The kombi operators helped us a lot in the past but are now failing to provide a reliable service. They treat us badly and we are now tired of them.
“Who does not want cheap, safe and reliable transport? It’s the commuters who decide what kind of transport they want not the transporter to decide for us.
“We are boarding those tins (kombis) because there are no buses,” she said.
Mr Nyasha Chikuni of Glen Norah said a new firm in the transport industry will force kombi operators to lower their prices.
“When it is raining they increase their fares and that is not fair. More buses will bring discipline in the industry. I am sure the commuters are not so foolish to support people who mistreat them in the name of indigenisation,” she said.