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Nhlalwenhle Ncube
Push-cart operators in Bulawayo made a killing after people, largely vendors, sought their services to ferry goods from vegetable markets to the western areas as there was no public transport.
Push-carts became the readily available transport as drivers were still afraid that their cars could be burnt by rowdy protesters who turned western areas into no-go areas.
Nkosilathi Moyo, one of the push-cart operators could not hide his joy when B-Metro caught up with him along Luveve road: “Since I started this business more than 10 years ago, I have never made so much.
“Today I started work around six in the morning, but already the money I have is more than what I usually get in a month.
“For a single trip to Emakhandeni and surrounding areas, I have been charging between $25 and $35. It’s now 10am, but am already tired and after two trips I will call it a day.”
The other push-cart operators had to team up for suburbs far from town such as Pumula and Nkulumane.
“Some suburbs are far away and one cannot push alone so at least if you are three you help each other. We have been looking for customers going the same route and put their things together,” said another push-cart operator.
However, in the eastern suburbs, commuter omnibus operators heeded the governments’ call and it was business as usual as the commuter omnibuses were ferrying people to the CBD.
Transport operators who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that they parked their commuter omnibuses as they feared losing their fleet to hooligans who were barricading roads and burning tyres earlier in the week.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza said Government would not hesitate to revoke licences of transporters who deliberately stop carrying people.
He urged public transport operators to continue ferrying people to their work stations and ignore rowdy mobs trying to cause chaos.
derick.khumalo