By Desire Tshuma
MUTARE— Rank marshals and mawhindi in Mutare are calling for urgent talks with the city council after a recent enforcement operation disrupted work at commuter omnibus ranks and left hundreds without income.
The operation, carried out by Mutare City Council enforcement teams earlier this week, targeted workers who manage passenger flow, vehicle loading, and order at Sakubva, Dangamvura, and CBD ranks. Council officials say the aim is to curb congestion, illegal touting, and disorder. For the workers, it feels like an abrupt shutdown with no alternative plan.
“We’re just trying to feed our families. We wake up at 4am to keep these ranks moving. If they chase us out without talking to us first, where do we go?” said Herman, a rank marshal who has worked at Sakubva rank for 7 years.
More than just “touts”
Mawhindi and marshals say their role is widely misunderstood. During peak hours, they direct commuters, organize queues, and ensure kombis load efficiently. Without them, ranks often descend into gridlock.
“We’re not asking to operate outside the law,” said one hwindi at Dangamvura. “We want to be part of a system that works. Right now it feels like they want to erase us first and figure out the rest later.”
The workers argue that removing them outright will create more disorder, not less, and will push thousands who depend on informal rank jobs into deeper poverty.
Mutare’s situation mirrors what’s happening in Harare, Bulawayo, and Gweru, where councils have repeatedly tried to formalize transport ranks through evictions and new management structures. The stated goal is modernization and revenue collection.
The reality is that these ranks support thousands of families. Urban planners note that cities which have succeeded in reforming rank systems usually do it through negotiated formalization: registering workers, setting training standards, and giving them recognized roles.
Eviction-only approaches tend to spark resistance and often fail once enforcement eases
The workers say they are open to regulation but want a seat at the table before any further removals. Their demands include immediate dialogue, a phased integration into any new system, and clear guidelines on roles and conduct.
Mutare City Council has not released a detailed statement on this week’s operation. In the past, the authority has cited public safety and revenue concerns as reasons for tightening control at ranks. Requests for comment had not been answered at the time of publication.
With thousands of commuters passing through Mutare’s ranks daily, the workers argue that any lasting solution has to include the people who keep the system running on the ground.
“We’re willing to work under rules,” Herman said. “But rules made without us don’t work.”