MPs Demand Action Against Lawlessness at Bus Termi...

MPs Demand Action Against Lawlessness at Bus Termini

Audrey Galawu- Assistant Editor

Lawmakers have called for urgent interventions to address rampant criminality, touting, and gender-based violence at Harare’s major bus termini, warning that weak law enforcement has turned these public spaces into unsafe zones, especially for women and children.

During a recent session in the National Assembly, Chairperson of the Parliament article Portfolio on Women's Affairs, Community and SMELL Development, Getrude Mutandi raised alarm over chaotic conditions at ranks including Mbare, Roadport, Old Renkin, and Rezende Parkade, citing a chilling incident in which a 13-year-old girl was raped in broad daylight by a tout at Rezende Parkade.

“The absence of law enforcement has turned bus ranks into zones of terror. Women and girls are no longer safe,” Mutandi said, emphasising the urgent need for coordinated action to safeguard commuters.

Other MPs joined the debate, expressing concern over how transport chaos had created fertile ground for criminal activities.

Edwin Mushoriwa, MP for Dzivaresekwa, stressed, “It is unacceptable that our public transport hubs, meant to facilitate safe travel, have become lawless spaces where children and women live in fear every day.”

The incident has drawn widespread condemnation. The Passengers Association of Zimbabwe issued a statement expressing shock and outrage over the attack. National Coordinator Tafadzwa Goliati said,

“We strongly condemn this heinous act and extend our heartfelt sympathy and support to the victim and her family during this traumatic time.”

PAZ highlighted several factors contributing to the unsafe environment at ranks, including overcrowding, illicit activities, and poorly managed public service vehicles.

“Kombi ranks in Harare are currently operating in unacceptable conditions. Crowded bumper-to-bumper, these ranks pose a significant fire hazard and make it impossible for passengers to navigate safely.

"The sale of beer and drugs, as well as the presence of destitutes and thugs, creates an environment of fear and vulnerability for passengers, particularly in the evenings,” Goliati said.

The association is advocating for immediate safety reforms, including banning public service vehicles with tinted windows, improving rank management, and ensuring a visible law enforcement presence.

“A visible law enforcement presence is essential to deter illicit activities and protect passengers,” Goliati added.

PAZ also urged parents and guardians to provide sufficient transport fare for school-going children to avoid exposing them to potential risks. They emphasized the need for organised transport, particularly for children commuting from resettlement areas where schools are far from homes.

Parliamentarians underscored that ensuring safe and efficient public transport is not only a law-and-order issue but a matter of social justice.

Mutandi urged that urgent legislation and enforcement mechanisms be put in place. “We must act now to protect our citizens, particularly the vulnerable, from being preyed upon in public spaces. Safety is a fundamental right,” she said.

In response to calls from MPs and civil society, the Ministry of Transport has been asked to collaborate with law enforcement and transport operators to implement reforms at kombi ranks.

PAZ has committed to working with these stakeholders to create a safer and more efficient public transport system, promising continued advocacy for passenger safety and rights.

“This is about human dignity and basic safety. We cannot allow our children and women to live in fear while using public transport,” Mushoriwa concluded.