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Heather Charema Herald Reporter
Harare City Council will soon move kombis that use the Market Square rank to the Coventry holding bay as it steps up efforts to decongest the city.
“Kombis that use the Market Square bus rank will soon be using part of the Coventry holding bay,” the council’s communications department said in a statement.

“We are now looking forward to constructing additional holding bays to cater for kombis that currently use the Charge Office and Fourth Street bus ranks.”

Pick and drop points along major thoroughfares, the department said, were being actively looked into so that they cater for kombis and buses that ply out of Harare routes.

“The city is actively looking at establishing new and convenient pick and drop points along major thoroughfares leading into and out of the CBD.

“These will cater for kombis and buses that ply out of Harare routes,” the council said.

Urban Commuter Operators of Zimbabwe president Mr Simbarashe Ngarande said the Market Square bus rank was congested and that there was need to move kombis to the Coventry holding bay.

“There is congestion at Market Square and some kombis should be moved to Coventry holding bay and those that ply out of Harare routes should be moved to Mbare since they do not pay for parking discs,” he said.

Greater Harare Association of Commuter Operators (GHACO) secretary-general Mr Ngoni Katsvairo hailed the plans to expand the Coventry holding bay.

“We appreciate the move being taken by the Harare City Council to increase holding bays to cater for kombis using other ranks,” he said.
“The number of kombis plying city routes has grown significantly over the years and it is important to cater for this growth.” Mr Katsvairo urged the council to include kombis plying routes to other towns in at the Coventry holding bay.

This, he said, would decongest Sam Nujoma Street, Lomagundi Road and Samora Machel Avenue.