The government has said commuter omnibuses (Kombis) that are plying rural routes are allowed on the roads even without any registration with the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO).

The move comes amid pressure from private buses and kombis operators to allow their vehicles back on the road.

Private owned kombis and buses were barred off the road last year as a way to curb the transmission of the novel coronavirus and the government is determined to block kombis off the road for some time.

Speaking during last Wednesday’s National Assembly’s Question and Answer session in Parliament, Local Government and Public Works Minister, July Moyo, said:

Commuter omnibuses and buses which go to rural areas do not need to go to CMED or register with Zupco. If the Ministry gives them a licence to operate, that is what they use and nothing was disturbed._

However, because in urban areas most of the places are tarred, this is where the mushika-shika or illegal operators flood creating chaos._

Minister Moyo said the government is buying more Zupco buses with the intention of reaching out to all areas in the country.