Council engages ZRP in kombi war

The Harare City Council has engaged the Zimbabwe Republic Police in its efforts to restore sanity in the Central Business District as kombis continue to wreak havoc by carrying passengers at undesignated points and boycotting holding bays.

During off peak hours, kombis are supposed to park in the holding bays waiting to be called through radio systems in batches so that they pick-up passengers at Copacabana and other points.Push carts have also become a menace in the city centre as they block the movement of traffic and entrance into shops.

The city's acting corporate communications manager Mr Michael Chideme, yesterday urged public transporters operating at the Copacabana Bus Rank to revert to using the Coventry Holding Bay as a deliberate measure to decongest the city.

"The holding bay was set up to control traffic movement in the CBD and to free public space for use by other road users such as shoppers and visitors to the CBD.

"Transporters are carrying passengers from undesignated points in violation and disregard of traffic control signs and general road rules."

Recently, Government gazetted a law banning the carrying of commuters from undesignated points and such spots have been labelled with "No Stopping" and "No Hitch Hiking" signs.

"It is illegal to carry passengers where 'No Stopping' and or 'No Hitch Hiking; signs are erected and those found on the wrong side of the law will be arrested and fined.

"Owners of push carts are also urged to stop using them in the CBD as they are blocking the movement of traffic and entrance into shops in the city," he said.

He said council had engaged the Zimbabwe Republic Police to ensure sanity was restored in the city.

Council used $500 000 in the construction of a commuter omnibus holding bay at the corner of Coventry and Rotten Row, which is now turning to a white elephant.

The city traffic system has been chaotic with most accidents being caused by kombi drivers.

Harare is also set to amend the Harare (Omnibus) (Amendment) by laws, 270 of 1977 and the new provisions will see the city punishing operators who pick passengers at undesignated places as well as passengers standing at undesignated places.