FAITH NDOU
MASVINGO-Masvingo City Council has pledged to restore order in the city’s central business district (CBD) by addressing public transport challenges and establishing designated loading bays for commuter omnibuses.
The commitment was made during a full council meeting held on Monday, where Ward 9 Councillor Bernard Muchokwa urged the local authority to urgently provide a safe and properly managed rank for commuter omnibuses operating along the Rank-West-Sisk-Aphiri route.
Cllr Muchokwa said kombis that previously used the open space belonging to the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) as a rank were displaced after the authority reclaimed the site for development.
“We had kombis loading passengers along the West–Sisk–Aphiri route using NSSA open space as their rank. NSSA has since taken back the land and started development, leaving the kombis parking along the road near Express Garage,” said Muchokwa.
“As council, we have an obligation to provide safe transport facilities for our residents so that they are not constantly being chased away by municipal police and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). We request council to allocate land where they can operate legally under council management.”
Responding to the concerns, Masvingo City Mayor Cllr Alec Tabe acknowledged the shortage of space within the current CBD, saying the long-term solution lies in relocating businesses and services to the new CBD which stretches from the Craft Centre along Charumbira Road to the DDF area.
“There is no space in the current town. As council, we have to move to the new CBD. However, temporary measures will be put in place soon to provide a new rank for the affected commuter omnibuses,” said Tabe.
Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said the council’s technical team was already on the ground assessing the situation.
“Our technical team is on the ground and by mid-August changes relating to transport management in the CBD will have been implemented,” he said.
Tabe also revealed plans to reorganise operations at the Croco Motors bus terminus once council completes clearing the Gymkhana site which is set to host the upcoming Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbabwe World Tourism Expo.
“Soon after the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo, council will clear space at the Croco Motors bus terminus where long distance buses are currently loading from. We also intend to install a boom gate to regulate entry and exit, restore order and improve revenue collection. There is no sanity at Croco Motors and we have to restore order by creating a properly managed loading area,” said Tabe.
The proposed changes form part of the local authority’s broader efforts to improve traffic flow, enhance commuter safety and bring order to public transport operations in Masvingo’s CBD.
