Arresting pirate taxi operators not as easy as catching mice: Harare municipal police

Municipal police Chief Superintendent for Harare City Council Tarisai Chendambuya dismissed allegations of collusion with illegal operators in an interview on Zimpapers’ Capitalk 100.4FM No Holds Barred programme on Monday, following public complaints that council officers were ignoring pirate taxis operating in the CBD.

Trust Freddy-Herald Correspondent

HARARE Municipal Police have introduced a new “docket and multiply” system that levies cumulative fines of US$172 per recorded offence on pirate taxis, acknowledging that apprehending rogue operators remains “not as easy as catching mice with hands”.

“Yes people may say whatever they want, but the system that was put in place by our chief traffic officer is that a group of five municipal police officers move around taking number plates of all vehicles at illegal pick-up points, putting the number plates in a book and taking pictures,” Chief Supt Chiyendambuya said.

“You may sometimes see municipal police at illegal pick-up points, but the challenge is that you cannot catch these operators with your hands like you would when catching mice.”

Under the new enforcement approach, officers are documenting violations in crowded areas instead of making immediate arrests.

When a vehicle is later impounded, all prior offences recorded are charged together.

“When they eventually manage to capture the vehicle, all recorded incidents will be multiplied by US$172,” he said.

“If you ask illegal kombi operators, they will tell you that their fines are being multiplied by their previous offenses.”

He said immediate chases were being avoided due to the risk posed to pedestrians and vendors.

“Remember, we are dealing with people who are prepared to commit a crime,” Chief Supt Chiyendambusa said.

“If you look closely, a conductor will be holding the door of a kombi while loading passengers, and if you approach them recklessly, you will endanger pedestrians

“The CBD has many vendors who line their wares along pavements. It is not about simply chasing illegal pirate operators because it would be worse to let them run over pedestrians. We therefore let them go and wait for a safer day.”