Walk the talk on kombis: Experts

More action and less talk are needed to get kombis off the streets, experts say.

For close to a decade authorities and independent organisations have intensified calls to ban kombis and replace them with buses after they were deemed to be compromising traffic safety and order in urban centres. However, the calls are becoming an empty slogan of sorts with each passing day as no firm action has been taken to date. “The Government is not taking action on the issue of banning kombis because there is no immediate solution to replace these kombis and also the consequences of such a move are unpredictable hence little action,” said urban planning expert Mr Nyasha Mutsindikwa.

“It’s difficult to entirely phase out kombis right now because the existence of these kombis is a result of a failed mass transportation system, both road and rail. Kombis are, therefore, filling this gap.”

Town Clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi, however, said plans to phase out kombis and replace them with conventional buses were in place.

“Yes we are working on the mass transit system and we are looking for a partner who will supply us with buses that are sizeable. There are many investors who have shown interest in working and we are in the process of choosing the best and convenient buses. Kombis will now be playing a complementary role,” he said.

Last year the Harare City Council opened a holding bay near Coventry Road to decongest the Chinhoyi Street rank, but the move has made little difference to how kombi crews operate.