Chiwenga Orders Action on Harassment of Commuters and Dirty Public Spaces
Story By Staff Reporter
Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga has condemned the harassment of commuters who use buses and kombis. In addition, he told councils to take responsibility for keeping bus terminals and public places clean and safe. Chiwenga spoke at the second annual Consumer Conference in Gokwe, Midlands Province.
Harassment of Commuters “Not Allowed”
Chiwenga spoke about the abuse of people who travel by bus and kombi, and he said the practice is completely unacceptable. Therefore, he asked the Consumer Protection Commission to work with the Zimbabwe Republic Police and councils. Together, he said, they must take firm steps to end it.
Transport was not the only concern. For example, he listed several other violations that undermine consumer rights. “Beyond transport and counterfeiting, violations such as unfair pricing, refusal for change or alternative forms of payment, sale of expired goods and poor service standards undermine consumer rights,” he said. He added that authorities must tackle all of these urgently.
Hotline Numbers Must Be Publicised
Chiwenga said authorities must publicise the numbers people can call for help. Commuters should know who to phone when they are in trouble, and he named the council, the consumer protection body and the police.
Moreover, he wants authorities to resolve complaints quickly. Likewise, he wants them to respond fast and act firmly when people report problems. The transcript is unclear in places, but he appeared to say that people should be able to report abuse without fear.
Councils Must Take Charge of Bus Terminals
Chiwenga told local authorities to take responsibility for bus terminals and similar public places. Looking after these places is the councils’ job, he said, so he urged them to keep towns and cities in good order.
Furthermore, these places must stay clean and safe. They should also have toilets and clean water. In his words, such facilities give dignity and respect to the people who use them.
Toilets and Hygiene in Public Places
He recommended that places where people gather, such as markets and terminals, have toilets. In addition, he said staff must disinfect the toilets regularly and clean them after every use.
Chiwenga also appeared to link poor hygiene to disease and to the loss of life. He seemed to mention diarrhoea and cholera, although the transcript is garbled here. Finally, he asked people to play their part by not throwing rubbish out of vehicle windows or into the road. Instead, they should put it in a bin, he said.
Moving From Talk to Action
Chiwenga closed the conference by asking delegates to move beyond discussion to practical commitments. Ultimately, he wants a marketplace where every consumer participates with confidence, and where every responsible business competes fairly.
