Public transport operators in Harare are urging authorities to tackle the issue of rank barons, who are reportedly collecting over US$300,000 per week from more than 3,000 registered transport operators at bus terminuses and ranks in the city.
According to the operators, these rank barons and touts are extorting money from all kombis, including those in different associations and independents not affiliated with any association.
They achieve this by charging between US$1 and US$3 per kombi for a minimum of five daily trips. The exact amount depends on the time of day and passenger demand.
Ngoni Katsvairo, Secretary General of the Greater Harare Association of Commuter Operators (GHACCO), said all terminuses and ranks are under the control of touts.
Katsvairo estimated that these criminals could be collecting over US$1 million per month from this illegal activity.
The operators are calling for immediate action to put an end to this exploitation and restore order to Harare’s public transport system. Said Katsvairo:
<blockquote>
They collect at least US$2 and up to US$5 per trip depending on route. Most kombis do four to five trips per day from the rank thus almost US$1 million is being lost to these space barons per month, money which can be used to upgrade our fleet or develop the ranks like putting up security cameras, ablution facilities, repairing rank tarmac, sheds and lighting.
As GHACO we have about 1 200 kombis but all ranks in the CBD are occupied to full capacity by 3 000 public service vehicles affiliated to various associations.
It is our wish that ranks be controlled by associations and their employees who have their vehicles in ranks.
They should do this in conjunction with council enforcement. This is the only lasting solution to bring order and sanity to the public transport sector.
</blockquote>
Katsvairo said the rank barons wield considerable power. If a transport operator refuses to pay them, they are barred from loading passengers for their next trip.
He urged the Harare City Council to deploy municipal police and called for the national police to support legal operators and eliminate these criminals.
The Zimbabwe Union of Drivers and Conductors (ZUDAC), another major association in Harare, also called for the removal of the rank barons.
However, Council spokesperson Stanley Gama, responding to The Herald, denied that some illegal pirate kombi ranks in the CBD operate with impunity. He accused associations of working with the rank barons. Said Gama:
<blockquote>
The issue of rank barons is tricky. Some rogue associations themselves are cultivating this vice. Some of these barons are affiliated to the associations.
We have asked associations to disown these people by not paying them money. If forced to pay they are supposed to report the cases to the police who are more than willing to react and arrest the culprits… no reports have been received by the police or by municipal police.
</blockquote>
The council believes that 9,000 of the more than 12,000 kombis operating in Harare are operating illegally to some extent.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

In Harare, some bad people called rank barons are taking a lot of money from bus drivers. They charge between $1 to $3 for each trip a bus makes. This means they are making over $1 million every month! The bus drivers want the city to stop this and make things fair again. The bus drivers are asking for help from the police and the city council to fix this problem. Some people in the city council are saying that some bus companies are also working with these bad rank barons. It's a big problem in Harare, but people are trying to fix it.

"Harare Rank Barons Rake In Over US$1 Million Monthly From Kombi Operators"

Kombi operators have condemned the government’s decision to restrict commuter omnibuses to a 60 km radius, which is half of the previous limit.
Under the new regulations, kombi operators can continue to operate on urban and peri-urban routes but are now prohibited from servicing intercity routes.
Only larger buses, capable of carrying more than the 26-passenger limit for kombis, will be allowed to operate on these longer journeys, whether in scheduled or charter services.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/mps-hail-kombis-restriction-speed-limits/">The Herald</a>, Ngoni Katsvairo, chairman of the Greater Harare Association of Commuter Operators (GHACO), expressed the need for clarity regarding the new measures. He said:
<blockquote>
We are yet to engage authorities to get clarity on some issues. All we have at the moment is just the press statement.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe United Deregulated Commuter Operators (ZUDCO) president Frederick Maguramhinga accused owners of buses of influencing the changes. He said:
<blockquote>
We feel that bus operators are influencing some of these changes to further their interests.
They survive by eliminating others. If it is about road carnage, buses have claimed more lives than kombis.
</blockquote>
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona said the restriction of kombis from 120km to 60km is aimed at curbing road traffic accidents. He said:
<blockquote>
This is one of the many robust policies, and regulatory and administrative mechanisms being adopted to improve the country’s road safety regime.
Thus, it implies that all 26-seater kombis and below, will be restricted to offer transport services within a radius of distances not exceeding 60km.
We urge all commuters travelling beyond the 60km radius to use transport services offered by high-capacity buses.
These buses are more predictable, reliable, comfortable and more consistent than the quality of service offered by kombis on long-distance routes.
Buses also have greater leg space and baggage space for long-distance travellers than kombis, which makes buses more ideal for long-distance journeys.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Kombi operators are upset because the government says they can only drive in a 60 km area now, not bigger. Bigger buses can still drive longer distances. The Kombi operators want more information about these rules. Some people think bus owners are behind the change. The government says it is for safety, so there are less accidents. They say buses are better for long trips because they are more comfortable and safer.

Kombi Operators Demand Clarity On Government's 60 km Restriction

Private transport operators with conventional buses and commuter omnibuses (kombis) operating under the state-owned transport provider, ZUPCO, have demanded an upward review of their hire fees citing an increase in operating costs.
In a letter addressed to the Secretary for Local Government and Public Works, Zvinechimwe Churu on Friday, the Greater Harare Association of Commuter Operators (GHACO) requested an urgent meeting with Government to discuss the challenges they are facing.
Presently the transport operators are being paid ZWL$4 000 a day for big buses and ZWL$1 000 for kombis but they want the hire fees to increased to ZWL$4 700 for kombis. The letter by GHACO read in part:
<blockquote>Further to our letters of May 4 (and) June 16, 2020, requesting an urgent review of hire fees, we kindly request for an urgent meeting to highlight and discuss with you these issues including inadequate kombi hire fees of $1 000 against $4 700 total cost per kilometre.</blockquote>
GHACO secretary-general, Ngoni Katsvairo, said on Sunday said that they want the government to pay them about US$65 per day via Nostro accounts as spare parts.
Churu said there is a high possibility that the hiring fees for conventional buses and commuter omnibuses will be reviewed but emphasised that Government we also want to protect passengers as well from the high transport cost.
The ZUPCO arrangement has not helped anyone since the private transporters are moaning while members of the public spend hours on end waiting for the buses at various termini across the country, risking contracting coronavirus due to overcrowding, at the same time braving the cold weather in the morning and late evening.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/just-in-transport-operators-under-zupco-want-fees-revised-upwards/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Herald</a></h4>

Transport Operators Under ZUPCO Want Hire Fees Revised Upwards

Kombi operators under the Greater Harare Association of Commuter Omnibus Operators (GHACO) have implored the government to allow them to operate as they are suffering financial strain because of the 7-week long lockdown.
GHACO secretary-general Ngoni Katsvairo said that kombi operators were ready to follow the precedent set by their South African counterparts where the carrying capacity of omnibuses has been reduced. Katsvairo said:
<blockquote>In South Africa, taxis (kombis) are carrying ten people and we are willing to do the same.
Our members are struggling from this inactivity — from operators to employees, as their source of income was cut.
We are amenable to interventions by Government to see our members become part of the public transport system during this lockdown.
Our members are registered, so they are under an obligation to follow the law.</blockquote>
Under the lockdown restrictions imposed by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus, kombis are banned from operating.
Meanwhile, the Namibian government has permitted kombi operators to effect a 15 per cent fare hike to cater for reduced income caused by limited carrying capacity.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/lockdown-restrictions-limit-zupco-capacity/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Herald</a></h4>

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