Moffat Mungazi
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MUTARE’S Central Business District ranks and commuter pick-up points have been turned into a hub of lawlessness by touts who are, not only demanding varying amounts of cash from public transport operators, but also from vendors and at times innocent members of the public.
The culture of touting, illegal as it is according to the country’s laws, is now spreading to high-density suburbs in the eastern border city, where touts have besieged different pick-up points, charging operators.
The barbaric nature of the touts has left a number of well-meaning public transport operators pulling out of some routes after encountering violent reactions from these characters, who have literally become law unto themselves.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka said transport operators must stop employing or giving touts money.
He said the police is handling the issue together with the local authority, with a view to restore sanity in the city’s public transport pick-up points.
“There is an ongoing operation aimed at bringing back sanity in the public transport system, especially in urban areas, and Manicaland is no exception. Comparing with the period when we started, the situation is improving. We are working together with the local authorities across Manicaland, and Mutare, in particular to ensure that there are no inconveniences to the public transport operators and the commuting public.
“One of the most important things that we should take note is that public transport operators MUST stop paying or employing touts.
‘‘If touts are not paid, they will have no reason to remain in these pick-up points. If anyone is barred from loading their kombis after refusing to pay a tout that is when we can come in as the police.
“We have our intelligence unit officers on the ground monitoring the situation. The public transport operators can report these cases whenever they are barred from loading at pick up points simply because they refused to pay touts,” he said.
Manicaland Drivers and Transporters Association president, Mr Saul Tomu said touts must not receive a cent from operators.
“We as MDATA, our mandate and objective is that we do not condone touting. Everyone knows where they want to go in terms of the commuting public. Therefore, why does one need a tout to give them directions?
“We operate on a first come, first served basis. No one needs to pay anyone to load their vehicle first. We are aware that touts are making people in the public transport business pay some varying amounts of money to load their kombis, but we are saying this is corruption. It is unacceptable.
“We want sanity, and sanity starts with us operators refusing to pay touts for their ‘service’ because the same touts are bringing confusion and nightmare into the industry. As an association, we want sanity in this industry, and we are determined to ensure that as a province we achieve that,” he said.
The lawlessness being unleashed by touts in public transport pick up points has also drew the ire of the commuting public, most of whom are calling on municipal police to take over the administration of public transport at pick up points.
Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trust (ZNOART) Manicaland chairman, Mr Rodrick Chasauka said: “We all know that touts have the backing of perceived powerful individuals who are benefiting financially from their activities.
“There are some well-known people in the city who are backing these touts, including prominent businessmen, politicians and law enforcement agents.
‘‘We actually know them by name. As long as these individuals are benefiting from these touts, they will protect them. They will do anything to ensure that they are not incarcerated or removed from public transport pick-up points. This is a fact.”
Mr Agrippa Mhlanga of Zimta Park said: “What we are witnessing at the moment is a time bomb in the sense that there will come a time when these touts will be uncontrollable. Whoever is benefiting from these touts must be aware that they are creating a generation menace. A day will come when they will no longer be able to control them.
“We must nip this problem in the bud. There is really no reason to have touts in our public transport. Who does not know where they are going? Even the public transport operators know the pick-up points they intend to do business from.” Mr Robert Chokuda Fungirai of Dangamvura said: “I think the management of public transport pick-up points should be the responsibility of the municipal police.
“Touts must never be seen anywhere around our public transport pick-up points. They are not needed at all. If anything, they are a nuisance, and in most cases, they harass and inconvenience members of the public. In fact, they are also the same thieves who are busy pick pocketing and conning innocent people.”
In a bid to improve traffic management and enhance passenger safety, Government has introduced new requirements for local transport operators to register their vehicles under recognised associations.
Mutare City Council is currently in the process of registering transport operators under the associations, bringing together various stakeholders, including Ministry of Transport, Vehicle Inspection Department and traffic police.
The move aims to weed out illegal transporters who have been operating in the city, often under the management of touts, who would demand money from operators and even terrorize fellow passengers.
Mutare City Council’s Director of Spatial Operations, Mr Tonderai Sango said four associations are currently registering transport operators in Mutare — Manicaland Drivers and Transporters Association (MDATA), Progressive Family Trust, Urban League, and SCUTA.
“Four recognised associations are now in place to register transporters, and will oversee the registration process, ensuring operators meet the required standards,” said Mr Sango, adding that their efforts to regulate the transport sector are expected to have a positive impact on passenger safety and reduce the number of illegal operators on the roads.
“To be recognised as legal transporters, operators will need to register their vehicles under these associations, ensuring a safer and more regulated transport system,” said Mr Sango.
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