CHANTEL TAKUDZWA ZAMBUKIRA
The local public transport is having a field day in Bulawayo as public transport operators charge willy-nilly.
A commuter will leave for word in the morning and will be charged 15 Rand, yet on the return trip in the evening the fare will increase to US$1.00 or more.
The ‘more’ depends on the situation prevailing. Mostly during peak hour touts become merciless and connive with conductors and drivers to increase the fares much to the chagrin of impoverished commuters.
Such is the situation on the ground that those who cannot afford the inconsistent pricing of commuter fares are seen trooping along Luveve Road or Khami Road.
The touts and conductors are heartless, ruthless as much as they are disrespectful.
‘Ongafuniyo kayekele’ is their mantra, to say if one is unwilling to pay the imposed fares they may walk or find alternative transport.
Another phenomenon that is now taking place, is the overloading of passengers.
According to statute for Passenger Service Vehicles (PSV), commonly referred to as Khombis, each seat must take 3 passengers. Over the years the traveling commuters have gotten used to be made to seat in fours but the situation has now changed.
The commuters are now packed in fives per seat.
In a video taken by Zim GBC News, touts who patrol between 6th Avenue and Cowdray Park blamed the rate of inflation that has hit the country as one of the reasons for overcharging.
“Fuel is not charged in bond or RTGS but in the US$, if we are to do what people want we won’t be here to commute them. The other thing is I haven’t come across a gazetted price for local transport,” said one Oscar.
There has been normalization of lawlessness in the way the local commuters are dealing.
Those commuting to and from Cowdray Park are also involved into overloading which the Zimbabwe Republic Police claim they do not have any idea about.
On Tuesday, a BUPTA registered omnibus company called for a dollar from Hawkflight Cowdray Park to the City. Realizing that no one was boarding, they changed and called for ten Rands but passengers were made to sit by five in a seat of three.
This has been going on lately endangering the passengers ad well as shortchanging their hard earned cash.
When this Media House engaged the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association, the association representation promised that something was going to be done and they are taking number plates of the cars that are involved in such deeds.
However, comment from BUPTA was not obtained as it was difficult to engage the Director Khipha Khumalo.
These omnibuses do not only overcharge and overload, they also harrass passengers.
Sometimes they do not give passengers enough change especially when the passenger would have paid in foreign currency.
At some point, this Media House engaged with the police on the issues to do with passenger harassment and Assistant Spokesperson Nomalanga Msebele said there are no complains whatsoever of such cases. She also spoke on overloading saying she has not come across an accident caused by overloading so far.