Staff Reporter
The Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has called on the City of Harare to strengthen enforcement of by-laws protecting passengers, citing deteriorating conditions and inadequate facilities at the city’s bus terminals.
In a statement, PAZ national coordinator Tafadzwa Goliati said the association was concerned that by-laws designed to safeguard passengers were no longer being enforced, resulting in reduced space for commuters and an increase in illegal activities at bus ranks.
Goliati alleged that some areas previously reserved for passengers had been converted into car parks, while many bus terminals had become dirty and lacked basic amenities.
According to PAZ, several bus terminals have dilapidated toilets without running water and are without floodlights, bus shelters, bathrooms, canteens and bus washing facilities.
The association also questioned the use of revenue collected daily from transport operators, arguing that commuters and operators were not receiving services that reflected the fees being paid.
PAZ said it had written several letters to the City of Harare raising concerns over the condition of the bus terminals but claimed the issues had not been addressed.
The association appealed to the local authority to modernise Harare’s bus terminals, saying passengers deserved safe, clean and efficient transport facilities comparable to other public infrastructure.
