Source: Harare moves to merge kombi associations – herald
Remember Deketeke
Herald Correspondent
HARARE City Council is finalising a major overhaul of the capital’s commuter omnibus sector that will see more than 20 associations merged into a single umbrella body, in a bid to restore order to the city’s increasingly chaotic public transport system.
The proposed restructuring, which will create one central association supported by up to six affiliates, is aimed at improving regulation, easing congestion in the central business district and bringing discipline to a sector long blamed for disorder on the city’s roads.
The initiative follows engagements between the National Public Passenger Transport Associations’ leadership and council authorities.
Last month, the group, led by its chairperson Mr Ngoni Katsvairo, met Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume to push for a council resolution, the enactment of a supporting by-law and the introduction of service level agreements to formalise operations.
In an interview, Clr Mafume said the proliferation of associations had made it difficult for the council to effectively regulate the sector.
“We have too many associations operating in Harare, and that makes regulation extremely difficult,” he said.
“The idea now is for them to come under one umbrella, with a few affiliates responsible for self-regulation.”
Under the proposed model, the affiliates will oversee compliance within their ranks, while the council strengthens statutory enforcement.
“We have engaged the leadership to create one umbrella association for Harare, with about four to six affiliates that can handle the self-regulatory component of public transport,” said Clr Mafume.
“Council will then complement that with a statutory regulatory framework.”
Consultations with police and other stakeholders are ongoing, with authorities expecting to finalise the framework by the end of the month.
Once implemented, the system is also expected to improve management of commuter ranks and unlock investment in modern transport infrastructure.
“Once we are clear on who is operating and paying rank discs, we can attract investors to build proper facilities, including modern ranks,” Clr Mafume said.
“At the moment, commuters are exposed to the elements due to inadequate infrastructure.”
In a letter to the council, the associations said the worsening disorder in the sector — particularly in the CBD — required urgent intervention.
“The disorder in the public transport sector in Harare, particularly in the CBD, has drawn the attention of the highest office and now requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders,” reads part of the letter.
The group also renewed its long-standing proposal to replicate the more organised public transport model used in Bulawayo.
“Since 2015, we have been proposing the Bulawayo system to be introduced in Harare with no success, but we believe it is now time to restore order through such a framework,” the letter said.
Harare has in recent years seen a surge in informal pick-up points, with commuter omnibuses loading passengers at traffic lights, intersections and roundabouts, effectively turning road junctions into makeshift ranks.
This has worsened congestion while exposing commuters to rain and heat due to the lack of proper facilities.
Mr Katsvairo welcomed the move to formalise operations through legislation.
“It is very positive that associations’ operations are being legalised through a by-law and statutory instrument. This is something we have been engaging the council on for over a decade,” he said.
He noted that out of more than 18 000 public service vehicles operating in Harare, only about 5 400 are currently registered.
“It is important that the new framework allows operators to register under associations of their choice while contributing to order and sanity in the city,” he said.
