Back to Index

Zimcodd participates in demonstration against commuter omnibus fare hikes
Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD)
June 12, 2006

On the 12th of June 2006 the residents of Bulawayo, students and other civic organization including Zimcodd (Ms J. Mudzviti, Ms N. Ncube and Mr. H Gumbo represented Zimcodd) organized and participated in a demonstration against the unilateral fare hikes by commuter omnibus operators from $50 000 to $80 000 among other issues affecting the Bulawayo residents. The event coincided with the launch by the Bulawayo ZRP of "Operation $50 000". A significant number of people attended though most people came a bit late than the stipulated time (0900hrs).

A grievance document with issues affecting residents was handed over to the Resident Minister Mr. Cain Mathema at his Mhlahlandlela offices.

Issues raised in the grievances document included the need to:

• Stop and reverse the unilateral fare hikes
• Need to protect the resident from such tendencies by touts at terminus that leave the commuters feeling degraded and undignified
• The need by the police force to launch a thorough Operation to arrest and bring to book commuter operators who overcharge. The police force was also called on to be transparent and avoid taking kombi drivers to a distance away from passengers as it is alleged that they will be soliciting for bribes.
• It was called on for that those Operators who pull out of the road on protest or as a way of "fixing" the commuters should have their permits cancelled and will have to reapply and commit to the cause of the residents
• The residents were called on to refuse to pay any unilateral fare and should be protected by the law and should be involved through the residents associations to input in any fare revisions.
• Commuter omnibus operators are short changing the commuters by cutting a single journey to town into not less than 3 journeys causing the commuter to pay around $240 000 to get to town. This kind of conning should be condemned and stopped immediately and mechanisms should be put in place to protect the commuter.
• Other issues that were raised were issues such as the hiking of basic commodities such as sugar, mealie-meal and bread. It was noted that even big supermarkets were robbing the resident in day light by asking for example, a customer to first buy some other groceries in order to be sold a packet of sugar.

When the Resident Minister was given the document with the grievances he promised that he would take it up with the relevant Minister, Dr. I. Chombo and will give the residents feedback as soon as possible. Mr. Mathema explained that fares were controlled by the government in the same manner as basic commodities such as bread and mealie-meal hence transporters and other businesspeople alike should operate within the confines of the law otherwise they may face the full wrath of the law.

This demonstration was a worthwhile activity to the city of Bulawayo residents as it was meant to address real issues affecting the already burdened residents and transcended party politics as it covered real issues affecting every residents in spite of which party ticket they hold. 

Visit the ZIMCODD fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP