TellZim reporter
In a move that seems to be an about turn towards cleansing the Central Business District (CBD) of illegal pick and drop points, Masvingo City Council has resolved to temporarily suspend the resuscitation of Mucheke Bus Terminus pending the completion of road rehabilitation already underway.
Minutes of Health, Housing and Environmental Services Committee dated August 18, 2022 revealed that the project meant to drive buses to the rank in Mucheke suburb is to be briefly put on hold until the new road is finished.
“On the resuscitation of Mucheke Bus Terminus, it was reported that the project would be suspended for now pending the completion of the road rehabilitation project being undertaken by government, which would see the highway passing through Chimusana Bridge.
“The need for council to establish the Croco mini rank was highlighted for convenience of the travelling public,” read part of the minutes.
Council has on a number of occasions passed resolutions aimed at driving out of the CBD long distance buses but public transporter Zimbabwe United Passengers Company (ZUPCO) was accused of leading other transporters into the CBD with flourishing pick-up and drop points being cemented at Benjamin Burombo, Pick n Pay supermarket and Croco Motors on way to Harare.
Council efforts to drive transporters out of town and use Mucheke rank seemed to have hit a snag of late.
The new pick-up points have resulted in disorder in the CBD as the new termini have no ablution facilities for travelers prompting the pollution of open spaces in the ranks’ proximity.
Also the pick and drop points deny council access to the much-needed revenue they would potentially realize from such collections in an organized environment.
At one point council sought the intervention of Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to help enforce their resolutions in May 2021 after they felt the use of areas with no ablution facilities pose a health hazard to residents and travelers.
