(Last Updated on June 7, 2022 by zimdaily)
HARARE – All kombi operators will need to form associations before they are allowed to operate as public service providers. This is in line with the new Government public transport policy guidelines. This will be contained in a new Statutory Instrument that will guide operations of private public transport providers. It is being finalised by Attorney General, Advocate Prince Machaya.
Local Government and Public Works Minister, July Moyo, said the legal instrument being crafted will rid the public transport sector of chaos. “We are just awaiting the Attorney General to finalise the Statutory Instrument, which will guide the operations of these private players,” he said
“First and foremost, we want them to be well organised, we don’t want chaos and in the principles that were approved by Cabinet, the Government is saying they must form associations so that there is some sort of control and they have to be registered in the normal sense as a public service vehicle.”
Minister Moyo said the new Statutory Instrument will give kombis the routes to ply.
“This new Statutory Instrument will now designate bus stops, bus termini, which will be adhered to by all those who will be given routes,” he said.
“They should display their timetables and they should announce their fares on each route so that the transport sector is transparent to the citizenry.”
He said touts will be prohibited under the new public transport system being crafted. Minister Moyo said the Government expects that new bus stops should be erected in cities, as part of improving customer services.
“The responsibility of ensuring that bus stops are properly constituted lies with cities,” he said.
“There are many private players who want to build these bus stops and we encourage all the cities and towns to allow the private players to partner them as they will end up advertising at these bus stops yet these bus stops, in terms of the Omnibus Act and Urban Councils Act, belong to councils.”
[statepress]