Zimbabwe Ministry: Demands Touting Ban After Stallion Cruise Complaint

• Stallion Cruise bus company has formally complained about touts at Bulawayo's Fourth Avenue, alleging assaults, extortion, and coercion of passengers.
• The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is treating the complaint with "serious concern," calling for the "immediate removal" of touts and a "Whole-of-Government" response.
• The alleged actions of touts could breach Section 35(2) of Zimbabwe's Consumer Protection Act [Chapter 14:44], which prohibits unfair practices against consumers.
• The problem extends nationwide, marked by rivalries between operators like Stallion Cruise and Inter Africa, including a tout's death in Chiredzi and passenger harassment in Harare.
• Stallion Cruise is demanding a touting ban, police deployment, and licensed marshals at the terminus within 14 days.

The Ministry has declared it is treating these grievances with "serious concern," underscoring that passenger safety and security now necessitate a comprehensive "Whole-of-Government" approach.

Stallion Cruise, a prominent bus operator, has formally lodged a complaint regarding the escalating issue of touting at Bulawayo's Fourth Avenue bus rank, asserting that the situation has become intolerable. The company detailed a pattern of severe abuses, including allegations that touts are physically assaulting passengers, extorting money from them, and coercing travelers into boarding specific buses against their will. Stallion Cruise emphasized that it could no longer passively observe its passengers being subjected to daily mistreatment, further claiming that touts obstruct entry points and have effectively claimed the rank as their personal domain. This direct appeal from Stallion Cruise has prompted a significant response from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.

The Ministry has declared it is treating these grievances with "serious concern," underscoring that passenger safety and security now necessitate a comprehensive "Whole-of-Government" approach. In a direct communication to Commissioner-General of Police Godwin Matanga, the Ministry called for the "immediate removal" of touts from the Fourth Avenue location. This critical correspondence was also disseminated to various senior provincial and city officials, signaling a broad, coordinated effort. The Ministry further articulated its view that an integrated, multi-agency strategy is essential to decisively tackle the persistent challenges posed by bus rank touts, indicating a robust stance on Bulawayo bus rank touting enforcement.

The issues highlighted by Stallion Cruise are not isolated to Bulawayo but reflect a broader, nationwide problem plaguing public transport hubs across Zimbabwe. Tensions between competing bus operators have exacerbated the disorder, leading to direct confrontations. A notable incident involved Inter Africa bus management issuing an apology after its touts caused damage to a Stallion Cruise bus in Bulawayo, an event that has reportedly deepened animosity between the two companies. This rivalry has had more severe consequences, as evidenced by a tragic incident earlier this year in Chiredzi, where a tout died during skirmishes involving rival touts from both Inter Africa and Stallion Cruise. In response, authorities were compelled to allocate separate loading ranks to the two companies in Chiredzi to prevent further clashes.

Beyond inter-company disputes, passengers in other major urban centers have also reported persistent harassment. In Harare, for instance, travelers have complained about aggressive touting around Fourth Street Roadport. One specific incident saw a tout identified as Tafadzwa reportedly arrested in connection with these complaints, though he was later released. These widespread incidents underscore the urgent calls from various stakeholders for a permanent solution to the pervasive problem of touting, which undermines Zimbabwe public transport safety regulations and passenger experience.

The alleged conduct of touts, as described by Stallion Cruise and other complainants, directly implicates provisions within Zimbabwe's Consumer Protection Act [Chapter 14:44]. Specifically, Section 35(2) of the Act explicitly prohibits the use of physical force, threats, or any other unfair practices against consumers. The reported actions of touts—including assaults, extortion, and coercive tactics—could constitute clear breaches of these consumer protection laws. This legal dimension adds significant weight to the Ministry of Transport's commitment to a "Whole-of-Government" response, suggesting that enforcement efforts will not be limited to public order but will also leverage consumer protection legislation.

The Ministry's intention to escalate the matter to the Ministers of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and Local Government and Public Works further indicates a multi-pronged approach to the Ministry of Transport tout crackdown. This signals that the government views the issue not merely as a transport problem but as one encompassing public safety, consumer rights, and local governance. The potential application of the Consumer Protection Act Zimbabwe touts face could lead to more stringent penalties and a more systematic approach to curbing these illicit activities, moving beyond ad-hoc interventions to a more structured regulatory environment.

In light of the ongoing abuses, Stallion Cruise has put forth a series of specific demands aimed at restoring order and ensuring passenger safety. The operator is calling for an outright ban on touting activities, the immediate deployment of police personnel to bus ranks, and the introduction of licensed marshals at the terminus. Crucially, Stallion Cruise has requested that these measures be implemented within a 14-day timeframe, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. These demands align with the broader calls from stakeholders for a permanent and effective solution to the nationwide touting problem.

The Ministry of Transport's commitment to an "integrated Whole-of-Government approach" suggests that these demands, particularly the call for a Zimbabwe touting ban Stallion Cruise has championed, are being taken seriously at the highest levels. The escalation to multiple ministerial portfolios underscores the government's recognition of the complexity and cross-cutting nature of the issue. This concerted effort aims to create a safer and more orderly public transport environment, addressing both the immediate concerns of operators like Stallion Cruise and the long-standing grievances of passengers across the country.

Lawyers advising bus operators in Zimbabwe should review client compliance with the Consumer Protection Act [Chapter 14:44] regarding unfair practices by touts, given the Ministry of Transport's 'Whole-of-Government' response. This development signals increased enforcement risk for operators failing to control touting activities, potentially leading to fines or operational restrictions, and may necessitate new internal policies or engagement with authorities on licensed marshal schemes.

Source: Original reporting via Zimbabwean press.