Govt lifts ban on kombis

Bridget Mabanda

As most Covid-19 control measures have been relaxed, the government has allowed commuter omnibuses (kombis) back on the roads, according to a new Statutory Instrument issued on Wednesday.

The kombis were banned in early 2020 to curb the spread of the coronavirus, save for those that had joined the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company franchise.

According to Statutory Instrument 213A of 2022 promulgated on 21 December 2022, the ban on kombis was lifted with immediate effect.

“Transport services, whether intra-city or inter-city, for the carriage of passengers shall no longer be restricted to the transport services mentioned in section 4 (2) of the Public Health (Covid-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (No.2) Order, 2020) (“the principal order”), published in Statutory Instrument 200 of 2020, and all laws with respect to the licensing of those services that were in force immediately before the commencement of the principal order shall recommence in force with immediate effect,” the SI read.

Passenger Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) president, Tafadzwa Goliath said the move by government to allow commuter omnibuses back on the roads is welcome. However, all transport operators should abide by road rules and regulations.

“We call upon transport operators and their employees to exercise their operations in accordance to road rules and regulations. We also advise them to exist within transport associations that are well regulated and these associations can take a leaf from Bulawayo and Harare City should also use this practical, effective and efficient blueprint,” he said.

Goliath said moving forward, these passenger service vehicles must have passenger liability cover, certificates of fitness, route authority and permits from the Ministry of Transport.

He said PAZ is going to work with all government and local authority bodies and insurance to ensure that there is compliance, while ensuring that errant kombis are brought to book.

“We thank all key stakeholders, including the ZRP, Insurance Council of Zimbabwe, Ministries of Transport, Local Government and Public Works, and Health and Child Care and ZIPTO for their efforts and assistance towards sustaining passengers’ rights and safety,” he said.

In May this year, the government had okayed the return of privately owned commuter omnibuses under new regulations.

They were allowed only to operate under credited associations and follow strict guidelines which were an operator’s licence, certificate of fitness and route authority.

Commuter omnibus crews are known for ill-treating passengers, charging exorbitant fares and flouting road traffic rules and regulations with impunity.

It was for that reason that the government had taken the Covid-19 pandemic as a gratuitous opportunity to establish an efficient and affordable public transport system in the country and remove the kombis from the picture for good.