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The Harare Residents Trust (HRT) has bemoaned measures by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) of imposing fines for passengers who board illegal kombis and mushikashika which are not registered under the Zupco franchise.
The organisation urged the government to allow private transport operators back on the roads so that they can cater to the general public who find themselves stranded on a daily basis due to a shortage of ZUPCO transport.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police(ZRP) recently announced that commuters who board non-ZUPCO vehicles risk fines of $2 000 each, as they step up operations against errant buses, commuter omnibus, and private car operators.
In a statement this Friday, HRT blamed the government and indicated that the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works had shown poor management in terms of allocating transport resulting in ZUPCO failing to meet demand.
HRT pointed out that the insensitivity by the government to maintain a monopoly by an inefficient and ineffective ZUPCO transport system was making innocent people suffer.
“All the people being fined are innocent. The Minister of Local Government and Public Works and all those behind the ZUPCO monopoly are the ones who should be held to account for the pain that commuters have to go through daily in order to come to work and return to their homes in the evening.
“The Government must not pretend to be trying to enforce the law and order when they are the source of the public transport disorder in Harare and in other towns,” the statement reads.
This was seconded by various residents who are not happy about the new enforcement as they argue that the reason why they opt to use mushikashika is that ZUPCO has failed to meet demand.
HRT said the government must respect its people and stop pretending to be clueless. It said the short-term solution to the public transport crisis in Zimbabwe is to remove the ZUPCO monopoly and allow roadworthy kombis to operate.
The insensitive measures are causing the majority of Zimbabwean people to resent the policymakers. There is fear that if not urgently addressed, the government will end up failing to control people’s anger.
“They are provoking the people daily by making them go through painful experiences as they struggle to leave town and reach their homes. In the mornings, the situation is the same.”
As the police step up operations against illegal transport operators, 200 passengers were reportedly arrested yesterday for boarding unregistered transport while more than 20 buses were impounded.
On Wednesday, 200 commuters were arrested, 179 allegedly paid fines pegged at $2 000.
Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the development and encouraged commuters to use ZUPCO registered buses.
“Police are urging people to use ZUPCO registered buses only to avoid being arrested,” said Insp Mwanza.
He said the police will continue to impound and arrest illegal buses, Mushikashika vehicles, and their passengers.