Private operators to buy 200 buses for short routes

Joshua Muswere-Herald Correspondent

With the new policy by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development restricting kombi routes to 60km, from 120km, operators under the Zimbabwe Passengers Transport Organisation plan to buy 200 buses from China before Christmas to cater for shorter highway routes.

The Ministry recently adopted as one of a swathe of new safety measures a policy restricting all kombis and small buses to transport services within a radius of distances not exceeding 60km.

The restriction comes into force with new registrations and with renewal of registrations, but those at present registered can continue on routes up to 120km as part of the transition until their registration needs to be renewed.

ZPTO chairperson Mr Samson Nhananga highlighted that the regulations were part of efforts by Government and his organisation to boost safety on the country’s major roads.

“We have agreed as an organisation that we are going to procure 200 smaller buses that are 40-47 seaters and these buses should be here before Christmas to cater for short distances, the 60km to 120 km which are being done by the kombis,” he said.

The new policy came into effect from September 3.

Mr Nhananga wants to see more reforms. He said there was the need for regulations to deal with the menace caused by touts.

He wanted to see a return to the regulated timetables and routes.

“What happened in 1993 was that there was deregulation where a bus operator was allowed to go anywhere at a time when there was serious shortage of transport which was an advantage to the country at the time.

“But now that we have enough buses, there is a need to revert to regulation of fixed timetables and routes given that the country now has enough buses to cater for the country’s passengers,” he emphasised.

The Zimbabwe Passenger Transporters Organisation controls 75 percent of the transport and logistics industry in the country and has taken a deliberate stance to ensure effective transport services countrywide in support of the Government in creating a conducive public transport network.