Terracotta to expand Egodini taxi rank

Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor

TERRACOTTA Trading — the South African-based developer tasked with the rehabilitation of Egodini Bus Terminus has submitted fresh plans to the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) for the expansion of its taxi rank following an influx of commuter omnibuses interested in operating at the rank.

The developer is further establishing more temporary holding bays and will also create more access points to the rank, to help improve convenience.

Phase 1A of the multi-million dollar project was completed in February, which saw commuter omnibuses returning to the terminus, on 5 February. This phase of the project includes informal trader stalls, a taxi ran and the associated social amenities.

However, it was met with several concerns chief of which was that the rank could not cater for the large number of commuter omnibuses that were meant to use the facility. There were also concerns about the distance the holding bays were located to the rank.

As a response to the concerns that have been raised, the developer has since revealed that they have submitted plans for the further expansion of the taxi rank.

In an interview with Sunday News from his South African base, one of the directors, Mr Otis Tshabalala revealed that the joint operation by the Bulawayo City Council and the Zimbabwe Republic Police had seen an influx in the number of kombis interested in using the rank, hence their decision to expand the rank.

He, however, noted that this would not interfere with their original plans for the development of other phases in the project.

“We are excited by the response we have got since we opened phase 1A of the project. As with any project that is in its infancy, we have spent the last few months since our soft opening to the public in mid-February 2024 getting to grips with the small challenges and fixing them.

“After the joint operation by council and police, the number of kombis wanting to use Egodini increased sharply such that we were almost overwhelmed, which is why we have since sent plans to council for the expansion of the rank by a further three bays and temporary holding bays for the kombis,” said Mr Tshabalala.

He said they had tremendous support from all four registered taxi associations, who have given them valuable input into what is required to make the taxi rank operate efficiently.

“The four kombi associations, namely Bulawayo Urban Public Transporters’ Association (Bupta), Tshova Mubaiwa, Vuka Uzimele Transport Association (Vuta), and Bulawayo City Transit (BCT) have forged a very close professional relationship that has culminated in us signing a Memorandum of

Understanding, on how we will run and operate the taxi rank for the mutual benefit of all.

“Even the informal traders’ operation within the rank have constituted themselves into an association, called the Egodini Association, who we are constantly also engaging with and addressing all the possible concerns, which they raise,” said the Terracotta director.

Mr Tshabalala expressed his gratitude for the support that BCC and the office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution give to developers and indicated that they will continue to invest in the city.

Bupta chairman, Mr Morgan Msipa said since they started using the facility in February, business continued to increase daily, with members of the public embracing the taxi rank.

“Like any other entity, there could be teething challenges faced in the onset, but we have continued to work with the developer, engaged them, discussed and agreed on the best way to work.

“ As it is, they have managed to avail a second holding bay for our members, further, through engagements, they have agreed to give us an additional three bays, which we feel will go a long way in solving several challenges, which we were facing.

“Our call now is for enforcement by the authorities, so that passengers are not blocked by unscrupulous touts from coming to Egodini. What we are happy about, is that the public has embraced Egodini and we are honestly happy that the developer saw it fit to reopen the rank and the informal traders’ bays,” said Mr Msipa.

Vuta chairperson, Mr Busani Ngwenya echoed the same sentiments, revealing that ever since they moved into Egodini, their numbers continued to grow and members of the public, equally continued to support them.

“Terracotta officials are hands-on in terms of taking our input,which is resulting in some notable changes being implemented on the routes and traffic circulation,” said Mr Ngwenya.