GOVERNMENT intends to extend the ban on privately-owned
commuter omnibuses (kombis) beyond the national lockdown and will only allow
them to operate under the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) franchise.
This is part of elaborate plans to de-congest urban centres
and modernise the public transport system. Kombis have been barred from
operating since the lockdown started on March 30.
In his lockdown measures review speech yesterday, President
Mnangagwa extended the ban indefinitely. He said only Zupco-contracted kombis
would be allowed on the roads.
Authorities intend to take advantage of depressed numbers
of urban commuters during the lockdown to revamp and modernise the urban mass
public transport system through deploying high-volume buses.
The Sunday Mail has gathered that Government has directed
Zupco to invite interested kombi owners to register under its franchise as the
number of commuters has increased following the relaxation of the lockdown
rules.
Zupco is currently operating with 507 conventional buses
and 500 commuter omnibuses, and is looking for an additional 500 kombis.
This comes as authorities were intensifying efforts to
import new buses for inner and inter-city travel.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Dr July Moyo
told this publication that there is no guarantee that kombis will be allowed
back on the roads after the lockdown.
“We have been trying to build Zupco,” said Dr Moyo. “So,
throughout the lockdown we have said Zupco should operate. When we moved to
Level 2, we knew there would be more people requiring transportation.
“We then asked Zupco to call for more kombis and buses to
come and register and at the same time we will be introducing more buses. So the
plan is to make sure that we strengthen urban bus transportation through Zupco
so that we can bring sanity to the operations.”
He said urban transport systems operating through centrally
managed high-volume buses were the trend globally. Informal transporters, said
Minister Moyo, were the source of chaos in urban centres, particularly Harare.
“This is the trend in almost all countries. This
informality about urban transport creates chaos in the CBD area. We are only
going to see kombis on the road through Zupco for now, until we deal with
Covid-19.”
He said kombis should register with Zupco as what would
happen after Covid-19 “cannot be predicted”. He said kombis that are registered
under the Zupco franchise will undergo rigorous fitness tests before they are
deployed onto the roads.
“They are going to get examined through Central Mechanical
and Engineering Department (CMED). We want it (kombi) in good fitness, which is
a requirement for all public transport, in any case. Because if we keep on saying
there will be no kombis and you have your kombi at home, it is no good.”
Announcing the lockdown extension yesterday, President
Mnangagwa said only Zupco buses are allowed on the roads.
“Inter and intra provincial and district movement remains
controlled. Commuter omnibuses/kombis, unregistered taxies (mushikashika) also
remain banned.
“Only Zupco buses and Zupco contracted commuter omnibuses
with the stipulated number of passengers, and adhering to the sanitisation and
disinfection regulations will be permitted to operate.”
Urban planning expert Dr Percy Toriro said the current
urban transportation system is plagued by inefficiencies. He said commuter
omnibus operators should be organised.
“There was another problem that commuter omnibus operators
have failed to organise themselves, as a result they have also shot themselves
in the foot.
“If they were better organised it would be easier to
support them. Moving forward I would recommend the current idea to only allow
them to join Zupco as it is a progressive one.”
Dr Toriro said for their own independence, kombis needed to
organise themselves better, operate more efficiently and respect their
passengers.
“Generally let them improve the way they operate, because
their criticism is that they abuse their passengers and they don’t respect road
rules, so if they improve in those areas everyone will support them. We hope
that the authorities are taking these measures to improve the way they
operate.” Sunday Mail
0 comments:
Post a Comment