Bulawayo proposes US$13.4 million fleet overhaul amid tracking system lapse

The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has recommended a US$13.4 million phased investment over five years to replace its ageing and unreliable municipal vehicle fleet, amid growing concerns over operational inefficiencies and increased risk of vehicle misuse following the lapse of its fleet tracking system contract.

According to a recent council report presented at a full council meeting, 62 percent of the City's total fleet has exceeded its economic lifespan, severely compromising service delivery. Of the 340 vehicles and plant equipment under the Council's care, only 129 remain within their viable operational period. The remaining 211 are now classified as obsolete, leading to frequent mechanical failures and rising maintenance costs that continue to affect key departments such as refuse collection, emergency response, and roadworks.

"To address the persistent challenges posed by an ageing and increasingly unreliable fleet, it was recommended that a phased investment of US$13.4 million be allocated over a period of five years to systematically replace obsolete fleet," the report stated. It described the funding as a strategic capital injection necessary to restore fleet availability and ensure the efficiency of municipal services.

The Council's vehicle maintenance is currently handled across four workshops, namely the Famona Workshop (emergency services), the 13th Avenue Transport Workshop (light vehicles), the Roads Workshop (construction and plant equipment), and the Cleansing Workshop (waste management trucks). However, the burden placed on these workshops has intensified as ageing vehicles demand more frequent and costly repairs.

The report also revealed that efforts to strengthen accountability and curb misuse had previously been boosted by a Vehicle Tracking and Fleet Management System introduced in October 2020. The system, managed by Teltrack under TelOne, initially tracked 186 vehicles and offered features such as live location monitoring, driver behaviour analysis, and fuel usage reports. By 2023, a total of 231 vehicles had been fitted with tracking devices in compliance with Council policy, which mandates that all new municipal vehicles must include tracking and fuel management systems.

The system proved effective, generating more than 160 alerts per day, helping identify issues such as fuel theft, unauthorised refueling, route deviations, speeding, and vehicle abuse. However, the contract with TelOne has since expired. Although the installed tracking units remain functional, the Council is no longer able to access real-time monitoring or full system features due to the absence of an active service agreement.

"The contract with TelOne expired, but the tracking units and the whole system were operational. The Procurement Management Unit was working on re-advertising the tender to restore the system," the report noted. It warned that without a new agreement in place, the City is increasingly vulnerable to fleet misuse, theft, and complications in vehicle recovery during emergencies.

The Council's strategy to simultaneously renew its vehicle fleet and reinstate a robust tracking system is being viewed as a critical move to safeguard municipal assets and restore effective service delivery. Officials said the re-tendering process would be prioritised to ensure the new tracking system aligns with current fleet management policies.

As Bulawayo struggles with constrained financial resources and an aging urban infrastructure, the dual approach is seen as vital to improving accountability, reducing operating costs, and enhancing public trust in the City's ability to meet service delivery obligations.