Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Zimpapers Reporter
It is business as usual at the illegal Sixth Avenue rank in Bulawayo city centre where pirate commuter omnibuses ferry passengers to several western suburbs.
Authorities have for years been battling to put an end to the illegal picking up and dropping off of passengers at the rank, which continues to defy both municipal by‑laws and public transport regulations.
A video captured on Friday afternoon by this reporter shows several pirate commuter omnibuses operating unabated along the busy street. More vehicles are expected to throng the illegal rank during peak hours later on Friday evening.
Long-running challenge
The situation on Sixth Avenue is not new. Chronicle reporting and city records show that illegal commuter omnibus and pirate taxi operations have repeatedly transformed major streets into unauthorised mini ranks, causing congestion and posing road safety risks. Similar scenes were documented in the past, with 6th Avenue and other key routes becoming “traffic nightmares” as crews violated road rules and blocked thoroughfares.
Over the years the Bulawayo City Council has urged commuter omnibus operators to regularise their operations through joining registered transport associations that are authorised to operate in the city. These recognised bodies, established under the city’s public transport framework, were intended to bring discipline and ensure that vehicles use designated pick‑up and drop‑off points.
However, enforcement has remained inconsistent.
Past Chronicle coverage has noted that many designated bus termini have become ineffective, undermining policy efforts to streamline transport routes and forcing operators to resort to undesignated stops.
