Harare City struggles with touts and unregistered kombis

The Harare City Council says it is struggling to restore order at city bus termini, blaming aggressive touts who exploit political connections. Mayor Jacob Mafume compared controlling the touts to “extracting teeth,” saying their influence has contributed to the poor state of bus ranks across the capital. The problem is worsened by unregistered kombis. Out of 22,000 minibuses operating in the city, only 3,000 are officially registered, creating widespread informality that makes enforcement difficult and allows touts to extort money from drivers. Zifm Stereo