Another transport Association for Bulawayo

A NEW public transport organisation, Bulawayo City Transit Association (BCTA), has been set up in line with the local authority's directive that players in the sector should be registered to ensure sanity and conformity to city's traffic regulations.

The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) early this year ordered all commuter omnibus operators to be registered with either Bulawayo United Public Transport Association and Tshova Mbayiwa so as to ensure better management of the day to day runnings of the business.

BCTA is the third transport organisation which seeks to work with the commuter operators in enabling that they stick to the policies and regulations that govern their operations at Basch street terminus commonly known as Egodini and in the city respectively.

The association's chairperson George Mapako said the aim behind the establishment of the group is to ensure that there is accountability and transparency in transport business as of late some kombis have not been abiding to council's directive.

"We want those commuter omnibus that are not registered with either the two companies to be also  under a group so as to help bring about responsibility in the way they operate," said Mapako.

He said coming up with the association would allow those commuter omnibus who are reluctant in working with everyone to as well co-operate.

"There are arrogant commuter omnibus who fail to work with others in the business, when it comes to paying the money they are asked to pay, they do not co-operate hence launching the organisation will force them to follow the rules within the parameters they operate in," said Mapako.

Mapako pointed out that they are not in competition with Bupta and Tshova Mbayiwa as their aim is to ensure smooth runnings of their operations.

"Everyone should know that we are not competing with the two organisations, our goal is to enable that the business we are managing runs on well," he said.

He added that the launch of the new association is work in progress and they are in talks with the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to enable them successfully register the group.

BCTA transit trustee Mangena Sibanda said having a brand name will help lessen road problems normally faced by commuter omnibus.

"Having a name will not only identify that we belong to a certain group, instead being harassed by the police officers and stopped unnecessarily on road blocks will somehow be eradicated. If a Bupta and unbranded kombi are stopped at the road block you note that a policeman quickly rushes to the commuter omnibus that is not branded because they assume it has issues.

"Hence we saw it fit to come up with this organisation in order to have a name that will protect us in such instances," said Sibanda.

Sibanda called on all kombis that operate at Egodini yet plying routes such as Nkulumane 5, 10, 12 and Emganwini to register with the association.

Commuter omnibus owners who had attended the meeting said in order to get everyone participating, there has to be a fee charged which reflects that they ply to certain routes and now belong to the association.

"This should be simply done, everyone who knows they have their commuter omnibus plying the four routes should register with the organisation, this will get those individuals who are reluctant to pay money to stick to the laws in ground they operate in and actively be involved in the group."