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Freeman Razemba-Senior Reporter

COMMUTER omnibuses are now restricted in public transport services to 60km from the centre of the town where they are registered, half the previous 120km, and will have the same speed limiting and monitoring devices that have made such a major difference in safety for larger buses.

The new rules mean kombi services can continue to flourish on urban and peri-urban routes, but cannot handle the highway routes.

The new limit was designed to improve safety on the country’s major roads. Only larger buses, those able to carry more than the 26-passenger limit for kombis, can ply the longer journeys in either scheduled or charter services.

In a statement, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona explained the reasons for the switch.

“As the Ministry endeavours to mitigate against road traffic crashes involving kombis, a policy position has been taken to review the current radius-based restrictions for kombis on the issuance of route permits from 120km to 60km with effect from September 3 for operators seeking new permits.

“This is one of the many robust policies, regulatory and administrative mechanisms being adopted to improve the country’s road safety regime. Thus, it implies that all 26-seater kombis and below, will be restricted to offer transport services within a radius of distances not exceeding 60km. We urge all commuters travelling beyond the 60km radius to use transport services offered by high-capacity buses.

“These buses are more predictable, reliable, comfortable and more consistent than the quality of service offered by kombis on long-distance routes. Buses also have greater leg space and baggage space for long distance travellers than kombis, which makes buses more ideal for long distance journeys.

“Further, the kombis operating within the 60km radius are prohibited from operating without installation of speed limiting and monitoring devices in terms of Section 3 (1) of Statutory Instrument 118 of 2023, which prescribes that no person shall operate or drive on any road, a passenger public service vehicle registered in Zimbabwe, unless both of the devices are fitted to the vehicle.”

Minister Mhona said all inspection officers should adhere to this law and ensure that no kombi operator, driver of owner is issued with a certificate of fitness unless both devices were fitted to the kombis. All law enforcement officers had to ensure that all kombis were in compliance as prescribed by the law.

“The Ministry has also noted with concern that the kombis and unauthorised vehicles (mushikashika) are picking up and dropping passengers on non-designated points, thereby causing damage to the shoulders of the roads, most of which we have recently refurbished with clearly designated picking up and dropping points.

“The Ministry calls upon all enforcement officers to be diligent and ensure that all kombis and authorised public service vehicles pick up from and drop passengers on designated bus stops.

“In view of the above, kombi operators will be issued with route permits to offer passenger transport services for a maximum distance of 60km.

“The route permits issued before this statement will remain valid and shall continue to be legal documents until their validity has expired. However, with immediate effect, the Ministry will not tolerate any kombi which operates without the speed limiting and monitoring devices,” he said.

Minister Mhona also made a clarion call to all using the roads including motorists, transport operators and passengers to be more vigilant against road traffic violations, especially speeding, overloading and the use of unroadworthy vehicles.

“All these violations are serious offences and acts of negligence, thus, drivers and transport operators will be held accountable for such actions which are contrary to their legal and moral obligation for the safety of all road users.

“The Ministry rallies all traffic law enforcement agencies, road traffic safety actors, motorists and road users to collaborate against road fatalities,” he said.

Meanwhile, police have confirmed a fatal road traffic accident on Sunday at 6.30pm at the 70km peg along Bulawayo-Plumtree Road when a car hit a cow.

Three people were killed, while three others were injured when a Toyota Allex with six occupants veered off the road before overturning after hitting a cow.

The bodies of the victims were taken to Plumtree District Hospital mortuary for post-mortem while the injured were admitted at the same hospital.