Bulawayo links pirate kombis to law enforcers

Bulawayo City Council has made the startling claim that most of the unregistered and unbranded commuter omnibuses operating illegally in the city's central business district belong to members of law enforcement agencies.

The revelation emerged during deliberations on the city's Public Transport Policy Implementation Report for May 2026, as councillors expressed concern over the proliferation of illegal commuter operators and the weakening enforcement of municipal by-laws.

Town Clerk Christopher Dube told councillors that corruption within the transport sector had reached worrying levels.

"The corruption levels in the city have escalated to alarming levels. Most of the unbranded and unregistered commuter omnibuses belong to law enforcers," Dube said.

His remarks came as the local authority continues battling a growing number of pirate commuter omnibuses operating outside council regulations, a situation that has undermined licensed transport operators and worsened traffic congestion in Bulawayo's central business district.

According to a report presented by Director of Town Lands and Planning Wisdom Siziba, illegal transport operators and unauthorised pick-up and drop-off points remain among the biggest challenges facing the city's public transport system.

"The proliferation of unregistered operators undermines regulated service providers and illegal pick points affect smooth flow of traffic," the report states.

Bulawayo adopted its Public Transport Policy in 2012 to establish "a safe, efficient, coordinated and regulated public transport system", with only licensed operators permitted to carry passengers on approved routes.

Currently, five transport operators are licensed to operate under service level agreements with the city. They are Tshova Mubaiwa Transport Cooperative, Bulawayo City Transit Trust, Bupta Limited, Vuta Taxis and BUWTRA.

However, councillors said illegal operators now dominate much of the commuter transport market.

Councillor Susan Sithole said there had been a sharp increase in commuter omnibuses operating with yellow number plates and without company branding.

"Council's public transport policy is very clear that only commuter omnibuses branded and with all relevant documents should be allowed to operate," Sithole said.

"Of late, illegal pick-up and drop-off points in the CBD have increased. This is exposing council's failure to enforce by-laws."

In an effort to restore order, the city recently installed concrete barricades along Herbert Chitepo Street between Eighth and Ninth avenues to eliminate illegal loading zones and dangerous U-turns, with plans to extend the barriers to Fifth Avenue.

While officials said the intervention had improved traffic flow, illegal operators have reportedly shifted their operations to other locations, particularly the corner of Basch Street and Sixth Avenue.

Councillor Adrian Rendani Moyo said weak enforcement had also undermined the viability of the long-awaited Egodini commuter omnibus terminus.

"Poor enforcement has turned Egodini Mall commuter omnibus terminus into a white elephant," Moyo said.

"Most commuter omnibuses shun Egodini because of lack of business."

Council data also pointed to declining compliance among registered transport operators.

Vehicle route clearances fell sharply from 193 in March to just 68 in May, representing a 49 percent decline over two months.

The report warned that the drop in compliance could weaken council's ability to maintain an accurate database of operators and effectively enforce transport regulations.

Among registered operators, Bupta Limited accounted for the largest share of licensed vehicles, with 264 registrations representing 53 percent of the total recorded between February and May. Tshova Mubaiwa Transport Cooperative followed with 154 registered vehicles.

Councillor Mxolisi Mahlangu called for urgent action to restore order on the city's roads.

"Illegality should not be planned for. All illegal activities in the city should stop forthwith," he said.

He urged council to increase the deployment of municipal police, particularly during morning and evening peak hours, to strengthen enforcement and curb the growing influence of illegal commuter operators.