COMMUTERS in Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park suburb are being forced to dip deep into their pockets after kombi operators and pirate taxis increased their transport charges.
They doubled their charges after the police intensified their crackdown on illegal transport operators.
The operation has forced many kombi operators to withdraw services fearing that their vehicles would being impounded.
Daring operators who have not withdrawn their services are cashing in on the transport challenges to raise their fares.
“The few kombis available are taking advantage of the situation by hiking transport fares. From paying a 10 rands per trip we are now forced to pay US$1,” one resident said.
Tshova Mubaiwa’s spokesperson Atlas Moyo said their association had not increased transport fares.
Provincial acting police spokeperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said police would intensify the crackdown against illegal transport operators.
“We are cracking down on transporters, who are not complying with regulations, without number plates and also those who are not part of public transporters,” Msebele said.