BCC grapples with public transport chaos!

Gibson Mhaka

THE CITY of Bulawayo is facing a crisis in its public transport system, with concerns raised by councillors about inadequate service delivery, route gaps, and the rise of illegal operators.

Residents are also reporting poor customer service and even instances of violence from some kombi crews.
According to the latest council meeting, councillors sharply criticised the existing Public Transport Policy, highlighting numerous gaps, particularly in route allocations.

Ward 17 Clr Sikhululekile Moyo lamented the poor service in her Ward, where the designated operator, Bulawayo City Transit Trust (BCTT), lacked the necessary fleet size, forcing residents to walk long distances and endure overcrowding.

“The committee considered the matter and Councillor S Moyo raised concern about the Public Transport Policy. This policy had a lot of gaps, especially route allocations.

“In her Ward 17 Pumula North was not adequately serviced. The allocated Company BCTT did not have the adequate fleet. This forced residents to walk to Pumula/Hyde Park road.

“During peak hours, residents were being dropped far away from their homes. Ward 17 residents had proposed a route from City Centre via Pumula South to St Peters and another route from City Centre via Pumula North to Methodist Village.

“It should be noted that all peri-urban areas i.e Khami, St Peters and Methodist Villages had no public transport. In her view, BCTT did not have capacity. Bulawayo West Transporters (Pvt) Ltd. (BUWTRA) had been allocated non-viable routes. All the routes allocated to BUWTRA were being currently serviced by illegal transporters/Mshikashika (Honda Fits).

The company BUWTRA could not sign the service level agreement requesting council to review route allocations. She proposed that BUWTRA be allocated routes in Ward 17 including the peri-urban areas,” the minutes read in part.

Ward 11 Clr Suzan Sithole also highlighted the issue of unviable routes allocated to BUWTRA, which were being exploited by illegal operators.

The routes allocated to BUWTRA had been rejected by other companies because of illegal transporters. Council was also lacking in terms of enforcement. The route allocation process should start afresh. This time councillors should be engaged.

“Currently, Ward 11 Emakhandeni was allocated to VUTA which had no capacity to service the area. Emakhandeni had only four vehicles from VUTA. Previously it was BUPTA and the transport system was very smooth,” said Clr Sithole.

Ward 27 Clr Lizzy Sibanda noted that her Ward residents supported the introduction of BCTT but emphasised the importance of maintaining competition from other operators in the ward.

She stated that residents believed competition was crucial for improving service delivery and controlling fares.

Clr Lazarus Mphadwe of Ward 19 lamented the gaps in the Public Transport Policy, which had allowed illegal transporters to thrive.

“Council should embrace all the registered transport operators by enforcing traffic and public transportation by-laws. Loading and offloading of passengers at undesignated areas in the CBD should be stopped and relevant by-laws enforced. Residents should stop supporting illegal public transport operators,” he said.

Ward 16 Clr Greater Gumede complained about the Public Transport Operator in her Ward who did not treat residents well.

“Residents were subjected to change into other vehicles when they reached certain points in the ward en route to their final destinations. Residents had lost their goods and valuables after these interchanges.

“The illegal pick and drop off points along 6th Avenue, 11th Avenue extension, 11th Avenue and Herbert Chitepo Street and Leopold Takawira and Herbert Chitepo Street should be dealt with. Enforcements must be effective,” lamented Clr Gumede.

Ward 18 Clr Felix Takunda Madzana cautioned against the potential for conflict arising from route disputes, citing examples from neighbouring countries.

“In neighbouring countries, serious conflicts had started. He enquired about VUTA’s operations.”
Residents had raised serious complaints about services provided by VUTA and the lack of customer care.

“On the issue of routes, there was a need for consultations to be done. The routes given to BUWTRA were not lucrative. Other registered operators had rejected them. Currently the route Nkulumane to Luveve is full of illegal transport operators.

There were a number of road blocks along this route making it unattractive. BUWTRA should be supported and given better routes. The City of Harare had more than 30 public transport associations,” he said.

Clr Adrian Redani Moyo from Ward 2 noted that the major aim of the Public Transport Policy was to bring order.

“All registered companies were supposed to sign service level agreements. Any company refusing to sign the service level agreement should be de-registered and routes given to deserving companies.

“It would be difficult for Council to work with BUWTRA as the company was refusing to sign the service level agreement. The City should continue with the four companies. The re-negotiation of routes would create a lot of challenges. No more new applicants should be allowed from the new association/companies,” he said.

Adding his voice, Deputy Mayor, Edwin Ndlovu, emphasised that the council had already registered the maximum number of operators as per the 2011 Public Transport Policy.

“It only started with two companies by then they were associations. The Public Transport Policy was also approved by the Cabinet of Zimbabwe. The City of Bulawayo became a model in the entire country.

Council (2nd October, 2024) resolved to register BUWTRA as the 5th and final company according to the Public Transport Policy.

“This was an oversight. BUWTRA should not be further engaged by Council to sign the service level agreement. It was very clear that BUWTRA was not willing to work with council and in future this would create challenges,” he said.

Ward 14 Clr Dumisani Netha also emphasized the need to involve Councillors at each step to be taken.
In response, the Deputy Director of Town Planning explained that the local authority now had a resolution which only allowed five companies.

“BUWTRA was engaged and explanations were given regarding routes. The issue of boycotting the signing of service level agreement was highlighted as well. As long as BUWTRA failed to sign the service level agreement, it would not be recognised by the council.

“A detailed report will be submitted accordingly. Further engagements would be done with all four companies to establish the actual number of vehicles each company had. Another consultation would be done in all the wards.

“This would involve councillors. Other concerns had been noted and BCTT would be engaged in failure to service their routes. Tshova Mubayiwa will also be engaged to comply. Some of the fleet should be utilising the Egodini Mall terminus. Reviews would continue to be done.”

The Chamber Secretary, Sikhangele Zhou, explained that route gaps gave illegal transport operators an advantage and that enforcement efforts will continue to drive all public transport vehicles to designated areas.

Town Clerk Christopher Dube also assured the committee that enforcement measures had begun and would continue until full compliance was achieved.