Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Zimpapers Reporter
BULAWAYO City Council has been urged to shut down illegal taxi ranks in the city centre, with residents warning that vendors will continue flocking to undesignated areas as long as commuter omnibuses operate there.
The issue emerged during the 2026 Budget Review Consultation meeting held at the Large City Hall on Wednesday, where residents and stakeholders reviewed council’s mid-term performance.
Residents raised concerns ranging from water shortages and road rehabilitation to illegal vending and the chaos caused by kombis picking up and dropping off passengers at undesignated points.
Ward 1 resident Mr Mbuso Siso said council would struggle to eliminate illegal vending unless it first dealt with illegal taxi ranks.
“Vendors will always follow kombis. Wherever passengers are being picked up and dropped off, vendors will make that place home. Vendors operate in places where there are a lot of people so they will always target passengers as their potential customers.
“Council must be serious about removing all the kombis from Sixth Avenue and force them to relocate to Egodini Taxi Rank. Vendors will follow the kombis,” said Mr Siso.
Another resident, Mr Enock Mlilo, said council needed to increase manpower to enforce by-laws against illegal vendors and commuter omnibuses.
“We cannot keep talking about illegal vendors in the city centre without addressing the issue of manpower in the BCC security department. We have seen in other cities such as Harare where council is working with central government to get rid of illegal vendors and I think BCC must consider doing the same,” said Mr Mlilo.
The residents’ concerns come amid ongoing efforts by council to restore order in the city centre, particularly around vending and public transport.
