The Harare City Council has reiterated that picking up and dropping passengers at undesignated points by public passenger vehicles and hitchhiking in the city is not allowed.
In a move aimed at dealing with traffic congestion, especially in the morning and evening peak hours, the local authority has ordered long distance-buses to move away from the Showgrounds and use Mbare Musika and Coventry Road Bus Rank.
In a statement, the City of Harare has also directed that all legal public passenger vehicles carrying passengers along Second Street use Coventry Road Rank and Mbare Musika. Reads the statement:
The City of Harare wishes to inform its valued residents that picking up and dropping off passengers at undesignated points by public passenger vehicles in Harare is strictly prohibited.
Hitchhiking by the travelling public is also prohibited and is a punishable offence.
There has been an increase in congestion levels on the streets of Harare especially during the morning and evening peak periods.
Our observations have been that this has among other things been exacerbated by buses and kombis that are picking and dropping passengers at undesignated points.
Literally, some park on streets and block lanes resulting in traffic building up and ultimately causing gridlocks.
The public is being reminded that, in the event of a fire outbreak or any other emergencies, such needed response services will be impossible to timeously deliver in a congested city.
In an effort to reduce congestion, Council would like to advise that all legal public passenger vehicles carrying passengers along Sam Nunjoma (Second Street) should with immediate effect, use Coventry Road Rank and Mbare Musika.
All buses destined for Bulawayo that are illegally picking up passengers from Showgrounds must also use Mbare Musika and Coventry Road Bus Rank.
The following are the major bus termini that should be used:
1. Market Square
2. Charge Office
3. Copacabana
4. S. Muzenda (4th Street)
5. Rezende North
All public passenger vehicles are expected to be registered by the relevant authorities that include City of Harare.
The permits issued are clear on the ranks, routes and timetables to be used.
Given the above, all operators are being reminded to adhere to such provisions and to be warned that the enforcement agents are already on the ground enforcing the laws.
Traffic congestion in Harare CBD is caused by poor discipline, improper lane management, archaic management, poor urban planning, and poor road design, among other factors.
