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Sifundiso Ndlovu Chronicle Reporter
BULAWAYO commuter omnibus operators have castigated municipal police for working in cahoots with long distance bus operators to load passengers at a bus stop at the corner of Herbert Chitepo and Fourth Street.
Buses operating on the Victoria Falls route have since turned the bus stop, which is supposed to be a drop-off zone only, into a pick up point instead of the Entumbane rank. This has annoyed commuter omnibus drivers who accuse the bus operators of working with the municipal police.

“Municipal police arrive as soon as the bus arrives at 5AM and clamp it. They then return as soon as the bus is loaded to unclamp it. This is being done daily. But once we make a small mistake we are clamped and towed to a municipal depot along Khami Road. The clamping is just a ruse to cheat traffic police,” said Stephen Nxumalo, a kombi driver.

He said the buses had become a nuisance as they block the whole street and do not leave any parking space for other motorists forcing kombis to drop their passengers on the road.

“These buses must be moved and municipal police must also be investigated as there must be some corrupt dealings going on,” said Nxumalo.
Tobaiwa Janzo, a conductor for a bus serving the Victoria Falls route said they used the bus stop as it is more lucrative.

“People prefer boarding at Naik as it is in town. So we come here even if municipal police clamp the buses. We don’t mind paying the $100 dollars fine after we have loaded. They get the fine and we get passengers quick, so we are happy,” said Janzo.

Kombi drivers and commuters are however unhappy.
“The buses close the other lane to force all traffic to use a single lane. If nothing is done something bad, like an accident can happen soon,” said Nxumalo.
Bulawayo Mayor, Martin Moyo said municipal police will continue clamping the buses as they were using an illegal pickup point.

“The law is the law and the law says buses should load at Renkini,” said Moyo.