B-Metro Reporter
BULAWAYO’S public transport chaos is not only leaving commuters stranded, it is also bleeding the cash-strapped City Council through illegal parking, unauthorised pick-up points and unregistered operators, according to the latest council report.
The latest council report paints a grim picture of a transport system where some commuter omnibus operators are cutting routes, forcing passengers to change vehicles and allowing unregistered operators to take over sections of journeys.
One of the clearest examples is Cowdray Park, where commuters travelling from the city centre are reportedly being dumped at Percy Ibbotson School in Luveve 5 before being forced to board an unregistered vehicle to complete their journey.
“Route cutting continued and this affected many commuting residents especially in areas such as Cowdray Park.
“A commuter omnibus travelling from the city centre to Cowdray Park terminates its journey at Percy Ibbotson School.
“The passengers disembarked from Commuter Omnibus and handed over to an unregistered vehicle to complete the journey. This posed a lot of risk among the passengers,” the report stated.
But commuters are not the only ones paying the price.
The council is also losing potential revenue as illegal operators occupy public spaces, while vehicles park in the CBD and pick up passengers outside designated areas.
Further concern was raised over revenue leakages from parking, with the local authority noting that intercity buses were parking in the city after hours while picking up passengers.
“There was a lot of revenue leakages in parking,” the report stated.
Councillors called for research into the leakages and blamed poor enforcement for revenue losses, proposing that more enforcement officers be employed and operating hours extended to around 7pm or 8pm.
The report also highlights the continued proliferation of illegal pick-up and drop-off points, unregistered operators and declining vehicle registration compliance.
These problems are making it difficult for council to maintain an accurate database of operators and effectively regulate the public transport sector.
According to the report, Councillor Dumisani Netha, said lack of enforcement remained a major challenge.
“All buses parking in the City to pick up passengers should be dealt with. Illegal pick up and drop off points for passengers and other illegal activities should be stopped in the City,” he said.
Council said it would engage other stakeholders in implementing the Public Transport Policy, with enforcement after hours set to also be considered.
The City has also been working with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Ministry of Transport and
Infrastructural Development and Vehicle Inspection Department to improve compliance.
