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Private commuter omnibus operators across the country have welcomed a government decision to allow them back on the road following their ban during the height of COVID-19 in 2020.
The ban was decreed by Zimbabwean authorities allegedly to curb the spread of the virus.
According to <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/government-lifts-ban-on-kombis/">Statutory Instrument 213A of 2022</a> promulgated on 21 December 2022, the ban on kombis was been lifted with immediate effect. 
In response to the development, Greater Harare Association of Commuter Omnibuses (GHACO) chairman, Ngoni Katsvairo urged the government to recognise associations as important players in instilling order in the transport sector. Katsvairo told <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/operators-welcome-kombi-ban-lifting-by-government/">ZimLive</a> in an interview on Thursday:
<blockquote>
We’re very grateful to the government for the official lifting of the ban although we had already gotten a reprieve from His Excellency’s 7 May public statement on opening up public transport.
We hope that going forward, associations will be empowered to put more order in the sector.
The ban had opened up avenues for Mishika shika and we now look forward to working together with the government to enforce and ensure the illegal operators are stopped from taking business from those who comply with government laws.
</blockquote>
Tshova Mubaiwa Transport Cooperation marketing director Ndabazazo Mabunda said private commuter omnibus operations were highly affected by the ban.
They were forced to operate under the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) franchise, a move which they said was not ideal. ZimLive cites Mabuda as saying:
<blockquote>
We really appreciate the government’s move to lift the ban. We have been going through a tough time but there was no one we could blame because we appreciate that Covid-19 affected a lot of people.
Now that all is normalising, we are starting our operations from ground zero and we want to work tirelessly to make up for the lost time.
</blockquote>
Most <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/04/04/over-140k-kombi-workers-lose-jobs-in-harare-ghaco/">kombi drivers and conductors lost their jobs</a> when the government decreed the ban.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Pindula News

Operators Speak On Kombi Ban Lifting

The High Court has ended the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO)’s two-year long monopoly which came into effect under the Public Health (COVID -19) Prevention, Containment and Treatment (National Lockdown) Order 2020.
The law, which was promulgated at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, barred private operators unless they joined the ZUPCO franchise.
The government said the regulations were aimed at curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Bulawayo High court judge Justice Evangelista Kabasa ruled that Section 4(2)(a) of the Public Health (COVID -19) Prevention, Containment and Treatment (National Lockdown) Order 2020, was unlawful, irregular and invalid and set it aside.
The ruling followed an application by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) challenging the Order. The ZLHR said:
<blockquote>
We have stripped the state-run ZUPCO of its widely despised monopoly in the transport sector by outlawing legislation which created domination for ZUPCO to provide bus and commuter omnibus transport services to passengers across Zimbabwe.
The ban on private bus and commuter omnibus operators by the government in March 2020 made ZUPCO the only approved public transport provider, thereby spawning a major transport crisis in the country.
This compelled our lawyer Josephat Tshuma, who represented Tshova Mubaiwa, a network of commuter omnibus owners operating in Bulawayo, to in October 2021 challenge the monopoly created by the government.
After hearing arguments from Tshova Mubaiwa and respondents who included health minister Constantino Chiwenga, police commissioner-general Godwin Matanga, local government minister July Moyo, and President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Kabasa ruled that section 4(2)(a) of the Public Health (COVID -19) Prevention, Containment and Treatment (National Lockdown) Order 2020, which provides that only ZUPCO could transport passengers, is unlawful, irregular and invalid and therefore set it aside.
Several people were in 2020 left unemployed as a result of the arbitrary ban of commuter omnibuses and their right to choose and carry out a profession of their choice as provided in section 64 of the Constitution was violated.
The ban also violated their right to administrative justice as enshrined in Section 68 of the Constitution. In representing Tshova Mubaiwa, we sought to advance the rights to administrative action and the rights to a trade of one’s choice.
</blockquote>
The ruling, however, doesn’t change much on the ground as the government reversed the ban several months ago and allowed private operators to return to the roads, albeit, under associations, some of which are allegedly linked to ZANU PF.

High Court Ends ZUPCO Monopoly

The Government has admitted that some private contractors have withdrawn their buses and commuter omnibuses from the ZUPCO pool.
While it has not been stated why bus and kombi owners walked away from the ZUPCO franchise, it is understood that late payments, which are made in RTGS dollars, contributed to transporters’ reluctance to work with the public transport utility.
Addressing journalists during a post-Cabinet briefing in Harare on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Service Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said:
<blockquote>
Cabinet wishes to clarify that Government has not banned the operations of private contractors in the public transportation sector.
While noting the apparent withdrawal of services by some operations, Cabinet wishes to state that no effort is being spared in ensuring that the inconvenience to the travelling public is minimised.
Government would like to assure the nation that ZUPCO is engaging with contractors with a view to ensuring that all arrears are settled and resolving any outstanding matters.
In addition, more ZUPCO buses that were undergoing licencing have since been cleared and are now plying various routes.
</blockquote>
Commuters have been experiencing transport challenges, especially in urban areas since the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) launched an operation targeting unlicensed taxis (mushikashika).
Mutsvangwa said Cabinet decided that ZUPCO buses plying intercity routes, such as from Harare to Bulawayo, are now required to service local trips when they return from the highways. She said:
<blockquote>
ZUPCO buses that are travelling on intercity routes are now required to undertake local trips upon return.
</blockquote>
Mutsvangwa warned that the Government will not relent on its blitz against unlicensed vehicles that have filled the transport void created by the kombi ban. Mutsvangwa said:
<blockquote>
Government has, however, noted with concern the proliferation of unlicensed vehicles (mushikashika) and unroadworthy vehicles commuting various routes.
The public is informed that Government, through the Zimbabwe Republic Police, will enforce the law without fear or favour for the safety of the travelling public. All vehicles without number plates will be impounded.
</blockquote>
In 2020, the  Government enforced ZUPCO’s transport monopoly through Statutory Instrument (SI) 83 of 2020.
It said the move was aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus but critics argue that the ban on private buses and kombis was meant to manage the public transport sector following the January 2019 fuel riots.
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

Govt Says Private Contractors Are Withdrawing Their Buses From ZUPCO

The government has warned private commuter omnibus (kombi) operators that police will increase their operations against them as they are flouting COVID-19 regulations.
Private kombis were banned from plying the country’s urban routes in March 2020 and the government decreed that they register under the State-owned bus company, the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO).
In her post-Cabinet briefing Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said VID, TSCZ and police will clamp down on unregistered private kombis to bring sanity to the transport sector. She said:
<blockquote>… the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID), the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe continue to enhance surveillance and enforcement in response to the upsurge of unregistered private kombis plying the country’s urban routes.
Owners of these vehicles are called upon to register with ZUPCO if they wish to operate on the country’s roads.
Drivers and crews of registered buses and kombis operating under the ZUPCO franchise are urged to strictly adhere to road rules and regulations as well as COVID-19 guidelines in order to avoid unnecessary delays to the travelling public and brushes with the law enforcement agencies.</blockquote>
Police have since launched a blitz targeted at illegal kombi operations that are breaking COVID-19 regulations.
Last week police in Bulawayo impounded over 400 kombis, buses and Honda Fit pirate taxis for violating regulations.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/police-to-step-up-blitz-on-illegal-kombis/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Chronicle</a></h4>

Police To Escalate War Against Illegal Kombis

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has said company and school-owned buses are allowed passage at police roadblocks as long as they have the requisite documents, proof of ownership and all relevant registration processes.
This comes after <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/04/30/staff-school-buses-barred-from-the-road-police/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bulawayo Provincial Police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube last week Thursday said all private buses not contracted to the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO),</a> even staff and school buses, are barred from the road.
Inspector Ncube made the remarks at a press conference at Ross Camp after scores of pupils were left stranded at roadsides as police impounded vehicles that were pirating in defiance of COVID-19 regulations in the city.
But in a statement this Tuesday, National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi invalidated the remarks that were made by Inspector Ncube. The statement by Assistant Commissioner Nyathi says:
<blockquote>The Zimbabwe Republic Police wishes to set the record straight on the use of company and school-owned buses to carry staff and pupils throughout the country.
This clarity will also assist to correct the statement being attributed to ZRP Bulawayo Provincial Spokesperson which recently went viral on social media.
In enforcing the Government’s COVID-19 regulations on transporters, the Zimbabwe Republic Police will ensure that company and school-owned buses which have the requisite documents, proof of ownership and all relevant registration processes are allowed passage at roadblocks and checkpoints.
The police will only impound public service vehicles such as kombis or buses which are carrying passengers whilst they are not registered under the ZUPCO franchise.  Police officers are fully aware of this position.
Private taxis and mushikashika vehicles will be impounded by the Police and there is no going back on this stance for public safety.
Companies and schools which intend to hire kombis or buses which are not under the ZUPCO franchise to transport workers should first seek clearance from the relevant Ministry and ZUPCO. This will assist law enforcement officers in the maintenance of law and order on the roads.
Meanwhile, the Police reports that since January 2021 to date a total of 167 062 people have been arrested for not wearing face masks. We urge the public to promote health safety and compliance with the Government’s COVID-19 regulations.
(NYATHI. P) Assistant Commissioner 
Senior Staff Officer [Press, Public and International Relations] 
To the Commissioner-General of Police 
Police General Headquarters</blockquote>

Police Backtrack On Company & School-owned Buses Ban

The Zimbabwe Passengers Association (ZPA) has implored the government to lift the ban on kombis to reduce transport challenges being faced by commuters, and thus decongest overcrowded ranks and curb the spread of coronavirus.
In a statement on Monday, ZPA secretary-general Paul Makiwa blamed the ZUPCO monopoly for the rise in coronavirus infections in the country saying people are contracting the virus while thronging bus terminuses for hours. Said Makiwa:
<blockquote>The government should lift the ban on other transport players, but tighten the rules and regulations since the Zupco monopoly has failed and has many a time forced passengers to travel in open trucks.
We know there are those (passengers) that passed away, some are sick and some have recovered.
From the time we started the lockdown, the number of cases was very low, but from the time the government started to overload passengers in Zupco buses, the numbers rose at an alarming rate. I believe those that gather statistics can agree with me.</blockquote>
However, Ministry of Information permanent secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana yesterday said it was not yet safe to allow private commuter omnibuses back on the road.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2020/08/lift-kombis-ban-passengers-association/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewsDay</a></h4>

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