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Bulawayo loses grip on public transport
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Bulawayo City Council is struggling to maintain control over the city's public transport system as illegal operators continue to defy regulations, establish unauthorised pick-up points and undermine licensed transport providers despite a policy framework that has been in place for more than a decade.
A council report on the implementation of the City of Bulawayo Public Transport Policy for April 2026 reveals growing concern among officials and councillors that the transport sector is increasingly slipping beyond the reach of municipal authorities.
The city adopted its Public Transport Policy in October 2012 with the objective of creating a well-regulated, efficient and coordinated transport system operated by service providers appointed by council and registered with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.
However, 14 years later, authorities are grappling with widespread illegal transport operations that have become entrenched across key parts of the city.
"The major challenges in the month under review revealed that the proliferation of unregistered operators undermining regulated service providers and illegal pick points affecting smooth flow of traffic," the report stated.
Implementation of the policy was disrupted in 2020 when the government designated Zupco as the sole provider of public transport services during the Covid-19 pandemic. The sector was reopened to other operators in 2022 following complaints over transport shortages.
Currently, five operators - Tshova Mubaiwa Transport Co-operative Company (TMC), Bulawayo City Transit Trust (BCTT), Bupta Limited, Vuta Taxis and BUWTRA - operate under service level agreements with council, while Zupco no longer services intra-city routes.
Despite this framework, illegal operators continue to dominate several major transport corridors.
During meetings held with transport operators in April, concerns were raised over unauthorised loading points around TM Hyper, Tredgold Sales House, Colbro and along Sixth Avenue. Licensed operators questioned why transporters operating outside designated ranks appeared able to do so without meaningful enforcement action.
Council investigations found that many commuters were being exploited by unregistered transport operators charging excessive fares.
"Exorbitant fares were being charged by unbranded/unregistered operators," the report noted.
Physical inspections and drone surveillance identified illegal transport activity at several hotspots, including the corner of Fort Street and 10th Avenue, Herbert Chitepo Street near TM Hyper, Sixth Avenue and Herbert Chitepo Street, and Leopold Takawira Street and Herbert Chitepo Street.
The report found that both branded and unbranded vehicles were operating from these unauthorised loading points. Sixth Avenue, in particular, has effectively become an informal transport rank, with vehicles parked there throughout the day in a disorderly manner.
The growing disorder has contributed to traffic congestion and increasing public frustration.
Residents from St Peters were among those who lodged complaints with council, citing unreliable transport services and concerns over fares. Subsequent investigations revealed that many vehicles servicing the route were operating outside the city's approved transport structures.
"Research on St Peters application was made and it revealed that most operators currently servicing the route were unbranded vehicles not registered with any of the public transport companies in the city," the report stated.
Council's ability to intervene has also been constrained by shortcomings in national legislation.
Following complaints regarding excessive fares, the local authority sought guidance from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, only to be informed that no gazetted fare structure currently exists for intra-city public transport operators.
"It should be noted that council does not have statutory powers to regulate and enforce public transport fares," the report said.
The ministry reportedly acknowledged that the situation highlighted a regulatory gap requiring attention at national level.
Council also expressed concern over declining compliance among registered operators. After improvements recorded during the first quarter of the year, compliance levels reportedly deteriorated slightly in April, raising further concerns about the effectiveness of existing monitoring mechanisms.
According to data submitted to council, Tshova Mubaiwa operates 361 registered vehicles servicing routes including Pumula Old, Nkulumane 5, Nkulumane 12, Emganwini, Luveve, Rangemore and Mbundane.
Bulawayo City Transit Trust operates 351 registered vehicles on routes including Nkulumane 12, Nkulumane 5, Munyoro/MC Inn, Pumula South and Mthunzini.
Three other operators are yet to submit route-specific operational information requested by council.
The report prompted strong reactions from councillors, who questioned why illegal activities continued to flourish despite enforcement efforts.
Councillor Lazarus Mphadwe said many illegal loading and drop-off points were operating openly.
"There were a lot of illegal pick-up and drop-off points for passengers. Most of these illegal activities happened in front of enforcement officers," he said.
Councillor Susan Sithole warned that some transport crews were behaving recklessly during enforcement operations.
"Such kind of behaviour could lead to injuries or loss of lives," she said.
Councillor Lovewell Mwinde described the situation as increasingly difficult to manage and suggested that additional support from national security agencies may be required.
"The situation was now out of hand. Previous enforcement operations had yielded no results," he said.
Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo criticised aspects of the city's transport policy, arguing that communities such as Hyde Park, Maziwi/St Peters Village and parts of Pumula South remained inadequately serviced despite having operators assigned to those routes.
In response, the assistant town planning director said operators continued to be monitored through service level agreements and pledged to investigate transport challenges affecting Ward 17's peri-urban settlements.
As part of efforts to restore order, council plans to install barricades along Herbert Chitepo Street to eliminate illegal loading points around Sixth Avenue and compel operators to use designated facilities.
Authorities are also looking to the completion of the Egodini Terminus project, which council believes could provide a long-term solution to many of the city's public transport challenges.
For now, however, Bulawayo's transport system remains caught in a growing battle between regulation and an expanding informal transport sector that continues to operate largely beyond municipal control.
A council report on the implementation of the City of Bulawayo Public Transport Policy for April 2026 reveals growing concern among officials and councillors that the transport sector is increasingly slipping beyond the reach of municipal authorities.
The city adopted its Public Transport Policy in October 2012 with the objective of creating a well-regulated, efficient and coordinated transport system operated by service providers appointed by council and registered with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.
However, 14 years later, authorities are grappling with widespread illegal transport operations that have become entrenched across key parts of the city.
"The major challenges in the month under review revealed that the proliferation of unregistered operators undermining regulated service providers and illegal pick points affecting smooth flow of traffic," the report stated.
Implementation of the policy was disrupted in 2020 when the government designated Zupco as the sole provider of public transport services during the Covid-19 pandemic. The sector was reopened to other operators in 2022 following complaints over transport shortages.
Currently, five operators - Tshova Mubaiwa Transport Co-operative Company (TMC), Bulawayo City Transit Trust (BCTT), Bupta Limited, Vuta Taxis and BUWTRA - operate under service level agreements with council, while Zupco no longer services intra-city routes.
Despite this framework, illegal operators continue to dominate several major transport corridors.
During meetings held with transport operators in April, concerns were raised over unauthorised loading points around TM Hyper, Tredgold Sales House, Colbro and along Sixth Avenue. Licensed operators questioned why transporters operating outside designated ranks appeared able to do so without meaningful enforcement action.
Council investigations found that many commuters were being exploited by unregistered transport operators charging excessive fares.
"Exorbitant fares were being charged by unbranded/unregistered operators," the report noted.
Physical inspections and drone surveillance identified illegal transport activity at several hotspots, including the corner of Fort Street and 10th Avenue, Herbert Chitepo Street near TM Hyper, Sixth Avenue and Herbert Chitepo Street, and Leopold Takawira Street and Herbert Chitepo Street.
The report found that both branded and unbranded vehicles were operating from these unauthorised loading points. Sixth Avenue, in particular, has effectively become an informal transport rank, with vehicles parked there throughout the day in a disorderly manner.
The growing disorder has contributed to traffic congestion and increasing public frustration.
Residents from St Peters were among those who lodged complaints with council, citing unreliable transport services and concerns over fares. Subsequent investigations revealed that many vehicles servicing the route were operating outside the city's approved transport structures.
"Research on St Peters application was made and it revealed that most operators currently servicing the route were unbranded vehicles not registered with any of the public transport companies in the city," the report stated.
Council's ability to intervene has also been constrained by shortcomings in national legislation.
Following complaints regarding excessive fares, the local authority sought guidance from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, only to be informed that no gazetted fare structure currently exists for intra-city public transport operators.
The ministry reportedly acknowledged that the situation highlighted a regulatory gap requiring attention at national level.
Council also expressed concern over declining compliance among registered operators. After improvements recorded during the first quarter of the year, compliance levels reportedly deteriorated slightly in April, raising further concerns about the effectiveness of existing monitoring mechanisms.
According to data submitted to council, Tshova Mubaiwa operates 361 registered vehicles servicing routes including Pumula Old, Nkulumane 5, Nkulumane 12, Emganwini, Luveve, Rangemore and Mbundane.
Bulawayo City Transit Trust operates 351 registered vehicles on routes including Nkulumane 12, Nkulumane 5, Munyoro/MC Inn, Pumula South and Mthunzini.
Three other operators are yet to submit route-specific operational information requested by council.
The report prompted strong reactions from councillors, who questioned why illegal activities continued to flourish despite enforcement efforts.
Councillor Lazarus Mphadwe said many illegal loading and drop-off points were operating openly.
"There were a lot of illegal pick-up and drop-off points for passengers. Most of these illegal activities happened in front of enforcement officers," he said.
Councillor Susan Sithole warned that some transport crews were behaving recklessly during enforcement operations.
"Such kind of behaviour could lead to injuries or loss of lives," she said.
Councillor Lovewell Mwinde described the situation as increasingly difficult to manage and suggested that additional support from national security agencies may be required.
"The situation was now out of hand. Previous enforcement operations had yielded no results," he said.
Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo criticised aspects of the city's transport policy, arguing that communities such as Hyde Park, Maziwi/St Peters Village and parts of Pumula South remained inadequately serviced despite having operators assigned to those routes.
In response, the assistant town planning director said operators continued to be monitored through service level agreements and pledged to investigate transport challenges affecting Ward 17's peri-urban settlements.
As part of efforts to restore order, council plans to install barricades along Herbert Chitepo Street to eliminate illegal loading points around Sixth Avenue and compel operators to use designated facilities.
Authorities are also looking to the completion of the Egodini Terminus project, which council believes could provide a long-term solution to many of the city's public transport challenges.
For now, however, Bulawayo's transport system remains caught in a growing battle between regulation and an expanding informal transport sector that continues to operate largely beyond municipal control.
Source - Southern Eye
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