News / Local
Kombis relocate from Egodini to the City Hall
09 Jun 2014 at 06:52hrs | Views
Commuter omnibuses servicing Bulawayo's eastern suburbs will with effect from tomorrow relocate from Batch Street terminus popularly known as Egodini to the City Hall.
The kombi operators will have to contend with pirate taxis also operating from the City Hall.
Bulawayo United Public Transport Association chairperson Strike Ndlovu said they have been lobbying the council for some time to move from Egodini that was being shunned by commuters.
"The association has been lobbying the council for quite some time. It's now official that from June 10 we are relocating to City Hall," said Ndlovu
The relocation of the kombis has however brewed a storm as enterprising private operators who have been servicing the routes from the City Hall have promised to frustrate the newcomers.
One of the drivers plying the route, Gift Makore, said they will make it difficult for the kombis.
"The kombis are wasting their time coming here. They cannot compete with us. We will make it very difficult for them," said Makore.
In response, kombi operators urged the police to arrest the pirate taxi operators,
"We are running our business according to the law. We pay all our dues to the state and the municipality so we expect them to protect us.
"These pirate taxis pay nothing and are operating illegally," said Ndlovu.
Defiant private operators have questioned why council allowed the kombis to move to the City Hall saying there would be chaos in the city centre.
"There is no space and there will be chaos here if kombis come. We all know how these kombis are driven," said Makore.
A commuter, Farai Maphosa, said he preferred small vehicles. "Small vehicles are more convenient than kombis because it does not take long to load them," said Maphosa.
Municipal workers were last week seen marking the bays for the different suburbs ahead of the relocation.
The kombi operators will have to contend with pirate taxis also operating from the City Hall.
Bulawayo United Public Transport Association chairperson Strike Ndlovu said they have been lobbying the council for some time to move from Egodini that was being shunned by commuters.
"The association has been lobbying the council for quite some time. It's now official that from June 10 we are relocating to City Hall," said Ndlovu
The relocation of the kombis has however brewed a storm as enterprising private operators who have been servicing the routes from the City Hall have promised to frustrate the newcomers.
One of the drivers plying the route, Gift Makore, said they will make it difficult for the kombis.
"The kombis are wasting their time coming here. They cannot compete with us. We will make it very difficult for them," said Makore.
In response, kombi operators urged the police to arrest the pirate taxi operators,
"We are running our business according to the law. We pay all our dues to the state and the municipality so we expect them to protect us.
"These pirate taxis pay nothing and are operating illegally," said Ndlovu.
Defiant private operators have questioned why council allowed the kombis to move to the City Hall saying there would be chaos in the city centre.
"There is no space and there will be chaos here if kombis come. We all know how these kombis are driven," said Makore.
A commuter, Farai Maphosa, said he preferred small vehicles. "Small vehicles are more convenient than kombis because it does not take long to load them," said Maphosa.
Municipal workers were last week seen marking the bays for the different suburbs ahead of the relocation.
Source - chronicle
