MIXED REACTIONS OVER RESTRICTIONS ON KOMBIS! . . . as motorists, operators welcome restrictions

PUBLIC service vehicle operators and motorists have welcomed the new restrictions on kombis, reducing route permits from the current 120km radius to 60km, and directing that they all be fitted with speed limiting and monitoring devices.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development said they decided to reduce the radius following a comprehensive review of the current radius-based restrictions for kombis.

However, some have voiced their concerns indicating that it will fuel corruption on the roads.

The new restrictions are expected to ensure speeding by drivers is curtailed and consequently save lives with the police having already been capacitated to ensure strict compliance.

Greater Harare Association for Commuter Omnibus Operators (GHACO) official said there was a need for effective implementation of laid down laws by the authorities.

“While more laws are put in place for the formal public service vehicles (buses or kombis) they need to be complemented with effective enforcement on mushikashika and pirate taxis,” the official said.

“If you check the operations happening in Harare CBD there are a lot of mushikashika and pirates which are operating illegally freely while legal kombis operating from designated ranks are detained for up to seven days for minor offences.

“There is need for enforcement to encourage compliance and order on our roads.”

ZUDCO COMMUTER SERVICES Association president Fradreck Maguramhinga said the new policy will fuel corruption on the roads.

“There was a report that was presented to the United Nations, which was done by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe and Police and clearly stated that buses had caused most of the accidents in the country,” he said.

“What is happening right now is that some bus operators are lying to the Government so that we are removed from the roads so that they gain monopoly on the roads.

“We even know who these bus operators are, soon we are going to start naming them because this has been going on for so long, they want to create oligopolies.

“As Kombi operator associations we are doing very well when it comes to road safety, we are going to try and talk to Government so that they get a clearer understanding of what happens on the ground.”

Maguramhinga said preference must not be given to pirate taxis(mushika-shika) as they cause more harm than good.

“We have pirate taxis being allowed to do intercity travels because they are illegal and more dangerous, they are also contributing to the accidents that are happening on our road,” he said.

“Look at what the pirate taxis and buses are doing with touts at Fourth and Showgrounds, it’s unacceptable and we believe something has to be done hence we are going to try and talk with the relevant authorities.”

However, motorists applauded Government for the new restrictions saying it will go a long way in saving lives.

“It’s not the distance, it’s not the age of drivers, otherwise, we still won’t be witnessing horror along the finished stretches of Harare-Masvingo road,” a motorist Gideon Gedye said.

“The main reason is corruption at VID, corruption by law enforcement officials and the physical state of body and mind which most kombi drivers are driving in.

“As long as they are driving to meet certain daily targets which owners want from them, they’re always going to be under pressure, therefore reckless driving.”

Another motorist, Farai Bimha said:

“The intervention is commendable but barely scratches the surface as far as reducing accidents is concerned,” he said.

“In Zimbabwe reckless driving is poorly punished and road rules seldom enforced, until this impunity is dealt with, we’ll continue to see more accidents.”

*H – Metro*