The City of Bulawayo has rejected an application by Bathwakazi Taxi Association to operate as a new public transport operator, citing a council resolution to maintain the number of operators in the city at five.
According to the latest full council minutes, the application was declined in line with the city’s Public Transport Policy, which seeks to establish a regulated system operated by properly registered companies.
The five operators currently providing intracity public transport services under service-level agreements with council are Tshova Mubaiwa Transport Cooperative, Bulawayo City Transit Trust, BUPTA Limited, VUTA Taxis and BUWTRA.
In a September 2026 update on the policy’s implementation, director of town planning Wisdom Siziba said Bathwakazi Taxi Association had been advised to consider joining one of the existing operators and ensure its vehicles were properly registered.
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“The applicant was advised to consider joining one of the five existing duly established public transport companies operating within the City and ensure that its vehicles were properly registered and operated in accordance with the applicable requirements,” the minutes read.
The policy, adopted by council on 3 October 2012, seeks to provide a safe, efficient and coordinated public transport system in line with the City of Bulawayo Master Plan.
“The Policy provided for the operation of public transport services by companies appointed by the Municipality and registered with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development,” the minutes stated.
The report also noted that the policy’s long-term objective was to establish a public transport system operated by one properly registered and constituted company.
However, council resolved at a meeting on 2 October 2024 that the number of public transport companies operating in Bulawayo should remain at five.
“In view of this Council resolution and the long-term objective of the Public Transport Policy, the application by Bathwakazi Taxi Association for recognition and registration as a public transport operator could not be acceded to,” the minutes read.
Meanwhile, council continues to regulate public transport operations through route authority clearances, which public service vehicles must obtain before operating.
Under the Road Motor Transportation Act (Chapter 13:15), all public service vehicles must obtain route authority clearance from the local authority before beginning operations.
The Town Planning Department maintains a database of vehicles issued with clearances to monitor compliance and ensure operators meet the applicable requirements.
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