Transport Blues ‘A Self-Inflicted Wound’

By Loyd Matare
The iconic struggle song’s haunting refrain echoes through the streets of Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital city, as commuters struggle to cope with the crippling kombi fare hikes.
“BP yangu yakwira! BP yangu yakwira! BP yangu yakwira!” a song by Prudence Mbofana which translates to (My blood pressure is rising!) a song commuters echoes with a loud cry out in desperation, their voices a passionate plea for relief from the suffocating transport costs.
The usually bustling streets of Harare have been transformed into a scene of frustration and desperation.
Commuters, already weary from the economic struggles that have plagued the nation, are now facing a new challenge: exorbitant kombi fares. The crisis, sparked by a recent police operation aimed at driving unregistered kombis off the roads, has left thousands of commuters stranded and financially strained.
Kombi drivers, determined to recoup losses incurred during the crackdown, have hiked fares to unprecedented levels, leaving many to wonder how they will make ends meet.
“I’m a vendor, and I rely on public transport to get to work. The kombi fare from my neighborhood to the market used to be $1, but now it’s $1.5. That’s more than half of my daily earnings. How am I supposed to feed my children?” said Mai Takunda, a mother of three who sells vegetables at Copacabana market.
Mai Tadiwa’s plight is not unique. Thousands of commuters are facing similar challenges, with many forced to fork out up to $2 for a single trip – a staggering amount in a country where the average monthly salary is around $200.
The police operation, aimed at ridding the roads of unregistered kombis, was intended to improve road safety and reduce congestion.
However, the move has had unintended consequences, with many kombi drivers taking to the streets to protest the crackdown.
“We understand the need for regulation, but the police are being too harsh. Many of us are struggling to make ends meet, and the fines are crippling. We’re forced to increase fares to survive,” said Pablo, a kombi driver who operates on the Harare-Gazebo route.
As the crisis deepens, commuters are bearing the brunt of the kombi drivers’ desperation. Many are being forced to seek alternative modes of transport, such as hitchhiking on the back of lorries – options that are often unreliable and unsafe.
The Passenger Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has also weighed in on the crisis, calling for streamlined operations, distinction between legitimate and pirate operators, and collaboration with associations.
“PAZ notes with concern the ongoing transport challenges faced by commuters, particularly the recent spate of arrests of kombis belonging to registered associations at roadblocks…we urge the authorities to exercise caution and ensure that legitimate operators are not unfairly targeted,” said PAZ president Tafadzwa Goliati.
However, kombi drivers remain defiant, insisting that they will not lower fares until the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) stops their operation and corruption.
“We’re not going to lower the fares until the ZRP stops their operation and corruption. It’s not just about the fines; it’s about the bribes they demand from us on every block. We’re tired of being exploited. The beginning is yet to start, and we’re prepared to take a stand,” said a kombi driver who operates at Rezende.
Another kombi driver from Charge Office bus terminus echoed similar sentiments.
“The police are making a killing from us kombi drivers. They’re always stopping us, demanding bribes, and fining us for ridiculous reasons. We can’t keep operating like this. We need the ZRP to stop their corruption and harassment before we can even think about lowering fares. The struggle is far from over.”
Moses one of the drivers who pirates at Corner Leopold Takawira and Speke added, “We’re not just fighting for ourselves, we’re fighting for our passengers too.”
As the standoff between kombi drivers and commuters continues, one thing is clear: the crisis is a symptom of a larger problem – a struggling economy and a lack of effective governance.
Until these underlying issues are addressed, commuters will continue to bear the brunt of the kombi drivers’ desperation, forced to pay exorbitant fares for a service that is supposed to be affordable and reliable.
Meanwhile, Ngoni Katsvairo, Chairman of the Greater Harare Commuter Omnibus Association (GHACO), has expressed his concerns over the recent kombi fare hikes, calling it a “sad development”.
As public service vehicle operators, Katsvairo emphasizes the need to maintain affordable fares, but notes that the presence of “space barons” and excessive touts in ranks has led to fare hikes.
“These individuals control fares and hike them at the slightest shift in demand, demanding a touting fee of double the fare.
“The higher the fare, the higher their benefit. We’ve tried to educate our crew and inspectors to resist such demands, but we haven’t gotten adequate support from authorities to resolve and stop these rank extortions,” Katsvairo explains.
Katsvairo highlights the need for increased cooperation between authorities and associations to limit the effects of extortion by space barons and touts. “Once there is order and control of ranks and loading points by associations, not space barons, it will be easy to control fares at source,” he stresses.
He added that the association is engaging with council and ZRP enforcement to ensure compliant PSVs are spared from impounds, preventing an artificial shortage of transport.
He urged authorities to take action, saying, “We need to work together to stop these extortionist practices and maintain affordable fares for commuters.”