Stick to 60km radius: Government digs in on kombi restrictions

GOVERNMENT says the decision to restrict the operating radius of kombis from 120km to 60km followed consultations and assurances that the national bus fleet will service all areas across the country.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development released a policy statement announcing the reduction of operating distance on the issuance of route permits for 26-seater and below Public Service Vehicles (PSV), as well as an immediate installation and enforcement of speed limiting and monitoring devices, citing the need to reduce road carnage.

The policy change was met with shock by transport operators who said while they would comply with the position, they will be engaging in dialogue with authorities for a possible reversal of the policy, which they said came without any consultations between the Government and operators.

Responding to emailed questions, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development spokesperson, Ms Judith Nhau, said since 2018, the Government allowed duty-free importation of public service buses and bus operators now have excess capacity to meet the growing demand for passenger transport services in both rural and urban areas.

She said the policy change came after consultations and assurances that high-capacity buses would be able to meet commuter demands.

“The radius-based restrictions were reviewed to 60km after consultations and assurances that the national bus fleet will service all areas across the country. As such kombis will still have a role to play for short distances, thereby, servicing the first and last mile at both the start and end of their journeys, with the long leg of the journeys being serviced by high-capacity buses,” said Ms Nhau.

Through the new measures, the ministry endeavours to mitigate road traffic accidents involving kombis and are also part of the broader strategy to manage and mitigate the inherent risk factors in the public transport sector to improve road safety.

Ms Nhau said the de-regulation of the public transport sector resulted in an unprecedented increase in the number of privately operated public transport vehicles, mainly kombis, and that while this resulted in the empowerment of local people who became transport operators, there were also negative aspects of the position.

“The kombis took over a number of streets that they used as loading points. Other negative aspects relate to noise, disorderly conduct, wanton and unjustifiable hiking of fares, and touting,” she said.

“Characteristically, kombi operators have a poor compliance track record with regulatory requirements and poor safety standards while the services offered by high-capacity buses are more predictable, reliable, comfortable and more consistent than the service offered by kombis on intercity and long-distance routes.”

Meanwhile, the ministry said cross-border kombis as well as those owned by institutions such as schools and hired kombis are not affected by the policy change as the regulation of cross-border passenger transport operations is governed by Bilateral and Multilateral Cross Border Road Transport Agreements, which are meant to promote and facilitate the smooth flow of cross border traffic within the Sadc and Comesa regions.

“In the same spirit, Zimbabwe will not make a unilateral decision but will continue to engage regional authorities to establish mutual consensus,” said Ms Nhau.

She said the new policy only applies to kombis operating stage carriage routes while school buses, hired kombis for pre-booked excursions and organised tour operators will be allowed to operate beyond the 60km radius.

“This is because these operations are generally compliant with our regulatory requirements and follow proper safety standards, which are meant to protect passengers and other road users,” said Ms Nhau.