Paul Nyathi

Urban public transporters users in Harare have been left exposed to the harsh wet weather as efforts by the Harare City Council to spruce up bus terminuses across the city have delayed.

In March this year, Harare City Council spokesperson, Mr Michael Chideme promised that the refurbishment would commence before this year’s rainy season, but up to now there is nothing tangible.

Passenger Association of Zimbabwe president, Tafadzwa Goliati, blasted the local authority for failing to spruce up terminuses.

“The Harare City council promised to address the issue of refurbishing the terminuses, but they are taking ages and we do not even know when the problem would be solved,” he said. “As it stands, it seems the city fathers have no answers to problems affecting the city.”

Greater Harare Association of Commuter Omnibus Operators secretary-general Mr Ngoni Katsvairo said they were not getting value for their money.

“We are not getting any services at ranks at all, just look at their state, the deplorable toilets and lack of garbage collection,” he said.

The city has five terminuses in the CBD — Market Square, Copacabana, Simon Muzenda Street (formerly Fourth Street), Charge Office and Rezende Street.

These terminuses lack roofs on the waiting sheds and properly functioning toilets. The few shelters still standing have been stripped of their roofs, while metal bars that used to hold them together are falling apart.