Transport Operators Cry Foul Over Rogue Route Marshalls

24 October 2025

By Khulisani Siziba

Transport operators in Bulawayo are demanding government intervention to stop unregistered route marshalls, known locally as “omavala”, who they accuse of disrupting operations and extorting money from kombi drivers.

Speaking during a meeting with police, members of Tshova Mubaiwa, Bulawayo West Transporters, and Vuka Uzimele Transport Association said “omavala” are operating outside the law and have become a financial burden to registered operators.

A Tshova Mubaiwa representative described them as “thugs collecting money with no legal mandate.”

“If these route marshalls are not legal, you don’t need us to tell you who employed them, just take these individuals and put them in a cell,” said the Mubaiwa representative.

While Bulawayo West Transporters representative stated that the chaos threatens the survival of legitimate transporters.

“We have a patrol car that overviews our route operations, but these unregistered route marshalls come and forcefully take money from the drivers,” he lamented.

However, a VUTA representative argued that some marshalls were hired to protect routes from poachers, saying the lack of a formal system has forced operators to take matters into their own hands.

“There is no other measure stopping kombi not from Luveve to operate on Luveve routes,” he said. “Hence kombi drivers come together and employ omavala to protect their routes.”

The meeting ended with a call for government to introduce a proper regulatory framework to restore order and protect the city’s transport industry.