BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
Dilapidated infrastructure, pungent smells and dirty tarmacs, is the welcome one gets as they arrive at Harare City’s Council bus termini which have gained notoriety for all the unpleasant things.
While there are public toilets at the termini; in most cases they are closed for various reasons, unavailability of water being one of them.
And without any public toilets operating, some people relieve themselves where they see fit.
As one looks around, you can see that the once beautiful termini are now old shells of what they used to be.
In some cases, metal sheets which make the roofs have been completely removed, while some loosely hang, posing danger to people.
Other roofs have now become storages for many things, most of which are containers of various shapes, sizes and contents.
Besides the pungent smells and urine splattered on the tarmac, some people are making a killing selling sadza, burgers and many other food stuffs not only to the bus and commuter omnibus crews, but other willing commuters, posing serious health risks.
And in the same termini, some vendors can be seen selling second clothes.
Let’s forget the filth; but just the noise at these termini can make one confused and in the midst of it all, daring thieves will be busy, stealing from whoever snoozes.
In the evening these termini are danger spots, as the lighting is none existent, leaving commuters at risk of being mugged.
And when it rains, the termini do not provide the necessary shelter for commuters.
“It’s really unfortunate how these termini have become such an eyesore. We used to admire them because they were properly built and well maintained.
“Now it’s precarious taking shelter here and even just walking, because you may be stepping onto anything,” said Jeremiah Kajanga, a resident of Harare.
Similar sentiments were also echoed by Netsai Chikanga, who said the bus termini in Harare had for long outlived their lifespan.
“The termini are no longer in good shape, be it Charge Office, Copa Cabbana, Market Square, Fourth Street or any other, they need to be spruced up because they are not safe for commuters.
“Just the smell here is enough for one to say better I go to those undesignated ranks, along the streets. Have you ever been here in the night, it’s so dark that you can easily be mugged,” said Chikanga.
Tafadzwa Goliati, National Coordinator of Passenger Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) said they had received numerous complaints from commuters which prompted them to write a letter to the city fathers.
Goliati revealed that they were still awaiting a response from the city fathers.
Part of the letter written by PAZ reads, “we have been receiving complaints from our members and the commuting public in general in Harare regarding the poor state of public facilities at bus ranks and termini in the City. “We therefore, request for rehabilitation of dysfunctional and dilapidated public toilets especially in Mbare and CBD.
“Most bus termini toilets lack running water and are unhygienic, which in the face of the cholera epidemic threatens public health wellbeing.
“The installation or replacement of street lighting is of urgent importance as commuters are in danger of mugging during the night time.
“We also request the City of Harare to provide security detail patrols at bus termini during the night and in the interest of commuters’ safety.”
During a full council meeting, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said they were losing thousands of dollars in potential revenue because many commuter omnibus operators were not paying for rank discs.
The money collected from rank discs, Mayor Mafume said was meant to rehabilitate the termini.
His Worship Mafume said he had a meeting with the Harare Metro public transport operators to discuss the challenges they are facing and agreed on possible areas of cooperation.
“We have a challenge with the rank discs, our records show that only 450 kombis pay for rank discs, but in Harare 12 000 kombis are operating so now we have a challenge, so we cannot improve our ranks.
“We agreed with all operators that they are going to be paying as they enter the rank, every kombi that is getting into the ranks should pay each US$1.
“And I’m told that if each kombi pays, they get US$1 000 per rank so that money will help to improve those ranks. “So let’s work out a system that allows that at least 80 percent of that money should go towards improving the infrastructure,” said Mayor Mafume.
It was also revealed that city cashiers who had been removed from the termini were supposed to return so they collect the requisite fees.
Contacted for comment, Ngoni Katsvairo, Chairman of the Greater Harare Association of Commuter Omnibus Operators, said there was need to look more into the issue of low rank disc revenue collection.
He said if properly collected and managed, the money from the ranks will surely help improve the infrastructure.
“Council, Commission of Enquiry and ZACC must investigate the claims by council officials of low rank disc revenue collection and theft of voucher fees which led them to the recent withdrawal of the cashiers and municipal officers stealing voucher fees before they return them to the ground.
“They should rather maintain the Rank Disc system as it is traceable, transparent and accountable, voucher fees are being stolen at the entry point (video evidence was provided).
“Council Permit Letter, as we believe, is not in the 2024 budget as well as in many budgets in years before and must be scrapped, so that we remain with only the rank disc as a form of registration,” said Katsvairo.
He also called on authorities to register all bona fide associations and work with them for self-regulation, compliance and revenue payment monitoring purpose.
“Each association would register all their members with Council and ensure they all pay the agreed revenue heads due to Council or even collect it themselves from their members and forward to Council on commission basis.
“Council must not Double or Treble Dip – make kombis pay Council Permit, Rank Discs and Voucher Fees all at the same time, three service fees for one service at one rank.
“If there are any changes, these must be based on the Constitution and the Urban Councils Act as stated in A1-6 points above not what they did in March 2024 when they first brought the vouchers, pass a resolution on 1 March and implement on 4 March, without following due process.
“If Council insists on Voucher Fees, these must be automated and funds paid directly and electronically to the council coffers and an electronic receipt issued like what City Park does.
“Rank Entry and Exit must also be automated and not be manipulated by man.
“At least 50 percent of funds collected must immediately be re-invested into upgrading ranks with lighting, perimeter fence, shades and lighting, road maintenance in ranks, smart toilets, installation of rank route signage, development and upgrading Holding Bays and Bus Stop along routes including new ones and enforce heavily on illegal operators in the CBD,” said Katsvairo.
He further added that council should also sign service level agreements with associations in each rank so that there are private public partnerships in both revenue general, compliance, enforcement and development of ranks.
Katsvairo added; “voucher fees should not exceed US$1 per day – US$30 per day for voucher which is equal to US$120 per term a decent and not exorbitant increase in USD terms.
“On introduction of Voucher Fees, Council must reduce the Council Permit Letter fees from $143 to at most $25 per year and include it in the budget – as a form of annual registration fee.
“They must completely scrap the Rank Disc Fee as this would have been replaced by the Voucher.
“Council must man the ranks and stop all illegal pirates and kombis from loading within the rank or within 100 metres of the rank and even in the CBD.
“Council must also effectively enforce at mushika shika in order to stop all pirate taxis/kombis and drive all passengers to ranks thus promoting compliance and revenue generation for itself.”
