Mthabisi Tshuma
PLUMTREE Town Council is cracking down on chaotic public transport operations, ordering all commuter omnibuses and other public service vehicles to abandon their scattered pick-up points and move to Dingumuzi Rank from Monday, 19 October.
The operation, dubbed Operation Tjenesa, is aimed at restoring order in the border town’s Central Business District and designated industrial areas, where transport operators have been picking up and dropping off passengers at various unauthorised points.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Town Secretary Mr Thembalami Nyoni said the directive applied to operators servicing local routes, other parts of Zimbabwe and cross-border destinations.
“Council hereby advises all public transport operators (PSVs) plying the Bulilima, Mangwe,
Bulawayo and other transit routes that with effect from 19 October 2026, all Public service vehicles are instructed to move from Ephaneni Rank to Dingumuzi Rank.
“This directive also includes all in-transit public service vehicles to other areas outside the country, their first point of call for pick and drop within Plumtree shall be Dingumuzi Rank. This measure is in line with Council’s Operation Tjenesa drive aimed at restoring order in the Central Business
District and designated industrial areas. All operators are expected to comply. Non-compliance will not be condoned,” he said.
The move is expected to end the practice of operators using open spaces, roadside stops and other points around the town as makeshift ranks.
Operators travelling along Thekwane Road towards Plumtree-Ndolwane and Plumtree-Tsholotsho routes have been using Ephaneni Rank. Those servicing Plumtree-Madlambudzi and Plumtree-
Maitengwe routes via Station Road have been picking up and dropping off passengers in an open space opposite Zesa offices.
Bulawayo-bound operators have been using spaces outside Plumtree High School, Plumtree Bakery and a bus stop along the Plumtree-Bulawayo highway, while those travelling to Botswana have been operating from an open space opposite Petrotrade Garage along the Plumtree-Francistown highway.
The scattered pick-up points have raised concerns over sanitation and public health, as some lack functional ablution facilities.
However, the relocation has reportedly been met with mixed feelings among transport operators and other stakeholders. Council expects all operators to comply with the directive as it moves to bring order to the town’s transport system.
