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Blessings Chidakwa Municipal Correspondent
It is 6pm at Charge Office bus terminus, commuters bound for St Mary’s in Chitungwiza, a mix of people coming from work and learners, are standing in a long winding queue waiting patiently for the next Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) bus to ferry them home.

A cool breeze sweeps through while the skies look menacing as dark clouds continue to gather.

Suddenly and without warning, the heavens open up and those with umbrellas quickly open them, while others, especially women, use plastics to protect their hair.

Others rush to nearby shop verandas to seek shelter, while some brave the downpour for fear of losing their places in the queue and to take advantage of those leaving the queue to move a few steps up.

Suddenly, the bus appears and there is pushing and shoving as those that had left the queue return, while those that had remained and moved up are reluctant to accommodate them.

Some of those lucky enough to get onto the bus are soon counting their losses after losing wallets to pickpockets who are taking advantage of the chaos.

This has been a familiar story among commuters since the rainy season started.

Most bus terminuses no longer have roofs after they were vandalised.

The past week has been particularly bad, as it has been raining almost daily.

With the Meteorological Services Department predicting that the wet spell will persist for the better part of this week, it appears to be more problems for the commuters.

Shelters at Copacabana, Market Square, Simon Muzenda (formerly Fourth Street) and Charge Office are in a state of neglect.

At Copacabana, there is virtually no sign of the shelters that used to protect commuters from the sun or rain, while at Simon Muzenda what remains are rusting steel frames.

At Market Square, some of the shelters have been invaded by traders who are now selling their wares there.

Where some of the shelters have survived, they have either collapsed or are threatening to do so.

The city, which has been collecting money from commuter omnibuses that use these ranks, appears to be oblivious to the plight of commuters.

A commuter, Mr Isaac Nyangundo, said relevant stakeholders should spruce up the terminuses.

“Council and Zupco must not take commuters for a ride,” he said.

“Imagine it is raining, but there is no shelter and I am wet because I cannot leave the queue lest I lose my place. I have been standing here for the last one-and-a-half hours.”

Mrs Tendai Nyatsime, who uses the Copacabana terminus, said council officials should walk the talk on development.

“This is not proper that a bus terminus erected more than 30 years ago has not been refurbished even once,” she said.

“This is a capital city, the face of the nation and should be spruced up to meet world class standards.”

Mbare Musika, Harare’s largest bus terminus, has not been spared. A few shelters that are still standing have been stripped of their roofs, while  metal bars that used to hold them are falling apart.

Scrap metal dealers have been taking advantage of the situation to destroy the remaining infrastructure.

A long-distance traveller, who only identified himself as Gogo Rhoda said refurbishment of the shelters was long overdue.

Harare City Council spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme said council was working with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to refurbish bus terminuses across the city.

“To date, through the ministry, interested investors for the provision of infrastructure have been invited,” he said. “Investors provide the infrastructure and get their investment returns through advertising.

“So far, 10 investors have responded to the call and have since been allocated sites. Contracts for the construction are under review by the 10 companies. Construction is expected to begin in the second quarter of the year.”

Zupco intends to work with Harare City Council on designating official ranks where they will erect shelters for commuters.

In an interview recently, Zupco acting chief ex0ecutive Mr Everisto Madangwa said the new ranks were being   designated.

“We are working with the Harare City Council and our parent ministry to establish designated ranks for our fleet,” said Mr Madangwa.

“We want to ensure our passengers are picked up and dropped off at designated places.”