'Consult widely on kombis ban'

BULAWAYO residents and public transport operators have called on government to consult widely before effecting a ban on commuter omnibuses.

The call follows an announcement by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Dr Obert Mpofu, over the weekend that government had begun a process of phasing out commuter omnibuses.

The project would be implemented in the next two years and Dr Mpofu said it is meant to reduce congestion in cities.

In an interview with Chronicle yesterday, Bulawayo United Residents Association (Bura) chairperson Winos Dube said government should engage them before implementing such a decision.

"As people we need to be consulted so that we can also raise our views on the challenges we are seeing and also coming up with possible solutions. Banning of kombis might not be effective and we really want to know how doing so will improve the transport situation," he said.

Dube said to Bulawayo residents, prohibiting kombis from the streets is not a priority as there are other pressing issues like the resuscitation of industries.

The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Bulawayo, Cde Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo, said her office had not yet received any communication regarding the issue that she said had raised alarm.

She said she only read about the issue in the press.

"I haven't received any report from the concerned ministry and I hope the information may be released quickly so that we can disseminate it. The story has raised alarm among those who will be affected," she said.

Cde Moyo said in phasing out the kombis, Dr Mpofu's ministry should also come up with ways of incorporating those who will be affected.

"There is nothing wrong with introducing buses but there must be a way of addressing those who will be affected and incorporate them in the new system," said Cde Moyo. Bulawayo United Public Transporters Association secretary Albert Ncube said it was noble for the government to come up with a new transport system provided it does not alienate those surviving on the current one.

"There is nothing wrong with that provided those buses come through us. If there will be any loan facilities, they should be forwarded to us rather than bringing individuals who were not in the transport business," he said.

Some commuter omnibus drivers and conductors the Chronicle spoke to said it was not possible to just do away with kombis as many people depended on them for their livelihood.

"If they do that a lot of people will lose their source of livelihood and that will promote thieves. For example owindi have no academic qualifications, what will become of them?," said Makhiwa.