By Yvonne Manjengwa
Harare City Council has instructed commuter omnibus operators to vacate from the Central Business District and ordered them to operate from new ranks with effect from Wednesday 21 February 2018, (today).
This development comes as a strategy of trying to ease congestion in the Central Business District by the city fathers.
“City of Harare advises residents ,the commuting public and commuter omnibus operators that with effect from Wednesday 21 February 2018, no commuter omnibuses will be allowed in the central business district.” ,said Michael Chideme ,city council spokesperson.
According to Chideme shuttle services will be used for commuting people to get into town from drop off points and will be charged $0.30.
The routes are as follows:
Coventry Rank, Rotten Row – Robert Mugabe Way – Fourth St Rank through Copacabana Rank
Fourth St Rank –Fifth St – George Silundika Rd – Fourth St – Jason Moyo through Copacabana-Rotten Row to Coventry Rd Rank
Seke Rd Rank – Seke Rd – Robert Mugabe Way – S.Muzenda Rank (Fourth St Rank)
Coventry Rd Rank-Rotten Row – Charter Rd- Market Square Rank –Bank St –Kenneth Kaunda –S. Muzenda Rank (Fourth Street) and Back
Seke Rd Rank –Dieppe Rd (Coca Cola) – Chiremba Rd – Robert Mugabe Way – Robson Manyika Charge Office
Coventry Rd Rank – Cripps Rd-Dieppe Rd – Glenara Rd –S. Machel Rd-Rotten Rd – Coventry Rd Rank
“Some routes will be improved in the long run”, added Chideme.
Meanwhile, people have mixed feelings about this as some postulate that the strategy is a bit expensive and as it is some struggle to get just 50 cents for bus fare.
On the other side, the commuter omnibuses operators are vowing not to vacate the Central Business District because saying that is where there’s more business.
