THE Harare City Council has once again come under fire with commuter omnibus operators demanding viable operating space to end the chaos in the Central Business District.
Harare has been turned into a jungle with pirate taxis and illegal commuter omnibus operators causing chaos by using undesignated pickup and drop-off points.
The prevailing situation has left registered public transport operators disappointed, calling on the Harare City Council to provide a permanent solution.
“We want to applaud His Excellency President Emerson Mnangagwa for giving us space as transport operators. Also, we want to applaud the Zimbabwe Republic Police for working with, us but our issue is with the Harare City Council. As operators, we are paying money but the Harare City Council is doing nothing. We need operating space in Harare,” said Zimbabwe Union of Drivers and Conductors (ZUDAC) Commuter Services President, Mr Fredrick Maguramhinga.
Harare Youth Transporters Association (HAYTA) chairperson, Mr Edmore Tirivanhu Gwengwe said, “What we are saying as operators is that we need operating space so that our commuter omnibuses are not arrested while we own up to the Harare City Council. They need to turn some of the facilities so we operate without any hindrances.”
In response, the under-fire opposition-led Harare City Council says it has plans to decongest the capital.
“There are several modalities on the cards to decongest the city and details will be revealed to the public soon. We are also working with ZRP in decongesting Harare City,” said Harare City Council spokesperson, Mr Stanley Gama.
Law enforcement agents, working together with various government departments have launched an Operation code-named, “Tame the Traffic Jungle” as part of efforts to end lawlessness in urban centers.
Source Zbcnews
