Outcry over commuter route authority fees

Zim Now Writer

Commuter omnibus operators have slammed Harare City Council for hiking operators’ fees some of which they say are duplicated, making their operations difficult.

A route authority issued by the City of Harare costs US$143 per year and the figure is almost the same as the operator’s licence being offered by the Ministry of Transport at a cost of US$125 for three years.

Commuter operators are paying a total of US$429 for three years for the duplicated document, for which government only charges US$125 for the same period.

Greater Harare Association of Commuter Operators chairman Ngoni Katsvairo said even the route authority as issued by government, costs US$75 per year against council’s US$143.

“The costs by the local authority are actually against the government’s ease of doing business policy.

“We want to take the opportunity to thank the Minister of Transport for keeping the compliance fees at manageable costs in line with the Government’s policy of reducing the cost and ensuring the ease of doing business,” he said.

Katsvairo said they had been allowed to resume operations as small players through government’s ease of doing business policy.

On the other hand, the Harare City Council has defended the fees.

City’s spokesperson, Innocent Ruwende said:

“As you may be aware, most of the ranks are in bad shape and the council requires funds to spruce up and modernise bus termini.

“We had handed over the termini to Zupco and they never took care of them. We are the ones responsible for providing services such as sprucing up bus ranks, toilets, waste collection so surely, the fees cannot be the same. It is a requirement that they pay the local authority and government,” he said.