Gwanda taxi rank feud

The newly elected Municipality of Gwanda Councillors are in a serious feud with the town's long distance and local transport operators.

Reports coming from the town indicate that the new council is out to move all taxi operators in the town to operate from the old Jahunda Rank. The previous council had setup several taxi ranks around the town's central business district for easy access by commuters who do most of their shopping in the town's CBD. Of major concern are the taxis plying the Gwanda South area, Manama and surrounding areas which are at the BBR stand at the old railway station and the taxis plying the local route operating at the rank opposite ZEBRINE centre.

According to minutes of meetings held between the councillors and the transport operators made available to Bulawayo24, council claims that the taxis at the BBR stand are "making noise pollution" to the provincial administration offices located about a km away from the rank. The ones at the ZEBRINE centre are said to be "making dust" for the supermarket and other businesses opposite the rank. Council is also said to have said that all taxis in the town must be moved to the Jahunda Rank in order to boast business for the informal traders at the Jahunda Market and the council run MaNkomo Beerhall next to the rank.

The proposal has faced heavy resistance from the transport operators and the business community in and around the ranks accusing the councillors of being selfish and pursuing personal interests over community needs. According to the minutes the transport operators claim that taxis plying the Matshetsheni area are located in front of Mayor Knowledge Ndlovu's buy and braai butchery and restuarant and is not being earmarked to be moved because it is boasting the mayor's business. Another operator complained that buses, taxis and private cars going to Johannesburg and Beitbridge are using the Engen Garage owned by Gwanda North Member of Parliament Madodana Sibanda and are not being moved because they are boasting the MPs business.

Surprisingly, according to the minutes, the business people around the taxi rank are said not to have complained of any disturbances from the taxis as reported by council. The owners of business around the ZEBRINE centre are reported not to have seen any problems with the taxis operating in their areas except that they are enjoying the business from there. Residents interviewed by Bulawayo24 indicated that they were very happy with the decentralised ranks as they made access to public transport easier and manageable. "This is a very ridiculous move by council and just but shows the kind of problems we are going to have with these councillors if they are going to prioritise their personal interests over residents" said a resident identified as Thulani Nare who was waiting for a kombi at the BBR taxi rank.

The new Zanu-PF dominated council has already made warning shots of reversing most of council resolutions that were made by the previous MDC (Welshman Ncube) dominated council. At the same time residents are on a drive to revive or set up a residents association or pressure group mainly earmarking at giving a voice of for the residents through to council.