Chaos rocks Bulawayo transport system

Bulawayo's public transport system has descended into disorder, with councillors accusing illegal operators and corrupt enforcement officials of turning the city centre into a chaotic and lawless zone.

The concerns emerged during deliberations on the implementation of the City of Bulawayo Public Transport Policy for April 2026, where councillors painted a grim picture of uncontrolled illegal pick-up points, soaring commuter fares and worsening service delivery.

According to a report presented by the townlands and planning director, Bulawayo currently has five operators servicing intra-city routes — Tshova Mubaiwa Transport Cooperative Company (TMC), Bulawayo City Transit Trust (BCTT), BUPTA, VUTA and BUWTRA.

ZUPCO is currently not operating intra-city routes in the city.

Council noted that Bulawayo's public transport policy, adopted in 2012, was intended to create "a well-controlled, efficient and coordinated public transport system," but implementation stalled in 2020 after Government temporarily declared ZUPCO the sole public transport operator during the Covid-19 period.

Councillor Lazarus Mphadwe warned that illegal transport activity in the central business district had spiralled out of control.

"These pick-up and drop-off points are contributing to chaos and littering in the city," Mphadwe said.

He alleged that some cross-border buses were illegally occupying multiple parking bays while openly loading passengers at undesignated points.

"The amount paid by these buses was a bribe to TTI staff. These buses had been observed loading while clamped. Enforcement was lacking in the city," he said.

Councillor Lovewell Mwinde echoed the concerns, accusing some council enforcement officers of engaging in corrupt activities that undermined by-law enforcement.

"It was sad to note that some council staff members responsible for traffic enforcement were involved in corrupt activities," Mwinde said.

Councillor Suzan Sithole said the city was rapidly losing order and discipline in the transport sector.

"The city should learn from other cities such as Victoria Falls which is very orderly and enforcement is effective," she said.

Sithole also called for the regularisation of Emakhandeni pick-up points and improved infrastructure such as public toilets and properly designated vending bays.

Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo said several suburbs including St Peters, Mazwi Village, Hyde Park Estates and parts of Pumula South were not adequately serviced by public transport operators.

"These areas are not being serviced by the five public transport companies," she said.

Moyo revealed that some residents were paying up to US$3 for a single trip into the city centre.

"These are areas where residents are very poor and have serious financial income challenges. Council is failing residents with regards to public transport," she added.

Councillor Felix Madzana criticised commuter fare increases, arguing that transport costs continued rising whenever fuel prices increased but were never reduced when fuel prices dropped.

"Most commuting residents cannot afford the recent increases of US$1 per trip," he said.

Deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu said weak enforcement had allowed operators to establish illegal transport ranks along 10th Avenue and Robert Mugabe Way.

"This area is no longer trafficable," Ndlovu said.

"There are a lot of cross-border coaches ranking in the CBD and all these activities are happening in front of enforcement officers."

Committee chairperson Dumisani Netha questioned why previous council resolutions targeting illegal transport operators had not been implemented.

"There was no illegal pick-up and drop-off point that was supposed to operate," Netha said.

He insisted that all intercity buses and cross-border coaches without permits should operate from the Egodini/Erenkini terminus rather than from unauthorised CBD locations.

Council officials said authorities would review transport challenges affecting underserved suburbs and deploy enforcement officers to assess operations around the TM Pick n Pay terminus.

Statistics presented in the report showed a sharp increase in commuter omnibus registrations between January and March 2026, rising from five vehicles in January to 193 by March as enforcement efforts intensified in partnership with the Zimbabwe Republic Police and municipal police.