Zim GBC News | Harare Correspondent
HARARE – The Harare City Council has declared a losing battle against rampant disorder at the city’s major bus termini, pointing to aggressive touts operating with perceived political impunity as the primary cause.
In a stark admission of the challenge, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume described the difficulty of controlling the touts, whose influence has left bus ranks across the capital in a state of chaos and disrepair.
“Controlling these touts is like extracting teeth,” Mayor Mafume stated, highlighting their entrenched position.
“Their influence has significantly contributed to the poor state of our bus ranks.”
The crisis is being exacerbated by the sheer number of unregistered kombis flooding the city’s streets. According to council figures, a mere 3,000 of the estimated 22,000 minibuses operating in Harare are officially registered.
This overwhelming informality has crippled enforcement efforts and created a fertile ground for extortion, with touts routinely demanding money from drivers.
The situation continues to frustrate commuters and authorities alike, with no immediate solution in sight as the city grapples with restoring order to its public transport system.
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