Story by Peter Chivhima
PUBLIC transport operators have made a commitment to maintain order and keep Harare clean during the SADC Summit month and beyond.
With Zimbabwe hosting the SADC Summit this August, a collective effort is underway to make the regional event a success and the top priority is ensuring order and discipline, especially among public transport operators.
A survey conducted by the ZBC News in Harare’s bus termini shows a bit of responsibility, with public transport operators pledging to uphold order and cleanliness throughout the summit month and beyond.
“We have a lot of measures we are putting in place to maintain this order especially when our nation is hosting an important event. We now have patrol vehicles that will be strictly monitoring our drivers on the roads. Our vehicles have numbers where people can report any kind of recklessness. So we are pledging to continue with this order during the SADC Summit and beyond,” said Greater Harare Association of Commuter Omnibus Operators’ chairperson, Mr Ngoni Katsvairo.
The chairperson of the Harare Youth Transporters Association, Mr Edmore Gwengwe said, “First of all I want to congratulate President Emmerson Mnangagwa for assuming the SADC chairmanship role. It is that vain we as transport operators association that we want to commit ourselves for the maintenance of order and keeping our places.”
“We are carrying out awareness campaigns on orderliness and safety. We are also coming up with strategies to eliminate touting in our ranks, monitoring our drivers not to drop and pick up passengers from undesignated places. We have patrol vehicles making follow-ups in every route. We are also educating members of the public to use designated ranks,” noted the president of ZUDCO, Mr Fredrick Maguramhinga.
The government is rolling out several initiatives to transform the country’s public transport system, including a road rehabilitation blitz, which has been identified as a key conduit for development.
