The Sunday Mail
Government will commission a national transport master plan feasibility study for decongestion of urban centres through introduction of buses and phasing out of commuter omnibuses.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Permanent Secretary Mr Munesu Munodawafa last week said the master plan would usher in a modern mass transportation system.
He said: “The master plan will identify existing problems within the transport sector and provide solutions to the problems. In the case of urban transport system it will look at the feasibility of mass transit system.
“We are saying if a kombi can carry 18 people, why not introduce a bus which will carry 32 or more people? This way we will be decongesting the city by taking out one kombi at a time thus gradually phasing kombis out.”
Mr Munodawafa said the national master plan study would be carried out over 28 months at a cost of US$1,5 million funded the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Government.
Meanwhile, the Harare City Council has already started the process of buying buses to fit into the proposed plan.
Town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi said city authorities were scrutinising several tenders submitted to this end but would not say who the bidders were.
“Yes, we are working on the mass transit system and we are looking for a partner who will supply us with buses that are sizeable. There are many investors who have shown interest in working and we are in the process of choosing the best and convenient buses. Kombis will now be playing a complementary role,” said Dr Mahachi.
Commuter omnibuses were introduced in the 1990s to complement the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) which was facing viability problems.
However, regulating their operations has been a nightmare as numbers swelled while Zupco’s fortunes waned.
According to the 2012 Harare Urban Planning Report, over 4 550 individuals were registered as commuter omnibus owners.
The National Transport Policy (2012-2018) states that the design of most roads in urban areas does not conform to the rapid increase in traffic volume.
The policy promotes “the use of high capacity transport mode such as trains or articulated buses which economically and efficiently use road spaces and gradually phasing out less than 26 seats”.
