Weak enforcement keeps Byo’s public transport in chaos

Bulawayo City Council’s pledge to restore order to the city’s chaotic public transport system by January 2026 has passed without tangible change, as congestion, illegal pick-up points and unlicensed operators continue to dominate the central business district (CBD). Council had set January as a deadline to eradicate illegal pick-up and drop-off points following sustained complaints from residents, licensed transport operators and councillors. Concerns intensified last week after two people were killed and at least 12 others injured in separate traffic incidents along Sixth Avenue, renewing calls for stricter enforcement and improved regulation of public transport in the city centre.

At the centre of the problem is a Public Transport Policy adopted in 2012, designed to establish a safe, efficient and coordinated system through clearly defined routes, designated termini and registered operators. Implementation of the policy stalled during the Covid-19 pandemic after the government declared the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) the sole public transport provider. Enforcement resumed in 2022 when the sector was reopened to other operators, but councillors say progress has been slow.

Council says six transport companies are currently operating under Service Level Agreements (SLAs), which outline approved routes and operational responsibilities. These include Tshova Mubaiwa Transport Co-operative Company (Private) Limited, Bulawayo City Transit Trust, BUPTA Limited, VUTA Taxis (Private), BUWTRA and Zupco. However, council officials acknowledged that most of these operators are not servicing intra-city routes as intended.

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Operators are required to pay annual operational fees to the municipality as part of the route permit application process with the Ministry of Transport. Fees are set at US$180 for commuter omnibuses carrying between seven and 19 passengers, US$200 for vehicles carrying more than 19 passengers, and US$150 for metered taxis. Despite these requirements, council estimates that about 3,000 commuter omnibuses operate in Bulawayo, with only a fraction seeking formal route approval.

The city has three designated inter-city termini, Renkini Long Distance Bus Terminus, Entumbane and Nkulumane, but council says operators continue to operate illegally from the CBD. According to council, many inter-city and cross-border operators regard the termini as unattractive due to dilapidated infrastructure, prompting them to pick up passengers from unauthorised locations. Council minutes cite several challenges, including non-compliance with permit requirements, traffic congestion in the CBD, use of undesignated ranks, limited enforcement capacity, unbranded vehicles, including so-calledmshikashika, funding constraints and the presence of heavy-duty trucks in the city centre.

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