adminCommuters also found boarding or dropping off at prohibited pick-up points would also be arrested and fined.
In an interview yesterday, Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo said most accidents in the city centre were caused by pirate commuter operators and taxis who continue to flout traffic regulations.
He said the blitz on pirate taxis was meant to reduce congestion in the city centre in order to curb accidents.
“We want to decongest the city centre and reduce carnage on the roads. Most accidents occur during picking and dropping of passengers at undesignated areas.
“As police we will arrest and fine both the commuter operator and the passenger who break the law,” said Insp Moyo.
“Those who are arrested would be profiled and if they commit the same offence they will be taken to court and given a custodial sentence for not showing remorse.
“We are experiencing many accidents and as police we will continue to enforce the law without fear or favour.
“The operators and passengers must respect the law and go to the proper pick up points.”
Although he could not be drawn into iving statistics on how many people were being arrested per day, Insp Moyo said pirate taxis and commuter omnibus operators were a cause for concern.
The major illegal pick up points are along 6th Avenue, Corner 11th Avenue and Fort Street and along 12th and 13th avenues.
Insp Moyo also warned members of the public not to be over-excited during weddings as they also risked being arrested.
“We are also having problems with drivers during weddings who have a habit of ignoring traffic laws because of excitement. Some of them do not have licences and drive through red robots. Family members should also behave and desist from making noise and sitting on windows because of excitement as that constitutes criminal nuisance,” said Insp Moyo.
National traffic police spokesperson Inspector Tigere Chigome urged members of the public to co-operate with the police in order to restore sanity in cities.
“We discourage people from boarding taxis at undesignated points as that causes unnecessary congestion. Members of the public should work hand in glove with the police to ensure the drivers follow traffic regulations,” he said.
At the moment the passenger and the driver found on the wrong side of the law are fined $5 and $20 respectively.
Turning to the allegations that traffic police were smashing windscreens of operators’ vehicles, Insp Chigome said:
“It is not about police smashing windscreens willy-nilly. Often that happens in self-defence as some rowdy drivers refuse to stop at a roadblock. The problem is that we have drivers who do not respect police. Under such circumstances passengers have a right to effect citizen’s arrest because such drivers endanger their lives.”
Insp Chigome, however, said members of the public had a right to report members of the force who abuse their office on the road.
He also advised motorists to wear reflective vests at night to increase their visibility, especially when they have breakdowns.
Professional Drivers Association national chairman Mr Albert Sibanda said the solution to pirate taxi operators lay in identifying additional loading bays that were convenient to passengers.
“I do not see the police winning this battle. These operators are already established and have clients. Harassing them is not the solution. We have said it several times that the city council should come up with a proper formula to organise the operators in a legal manner and let them pay monthly rentals,” said Mr Sibanda.
“The relevant authorities must come up with a proper resolution than to harass people. If you fight your own people what will that achieve? Those people should be given convenient places to operate from.”
Last year the Bulawayo City Council made a proposal to ban kombis from the public transport system but backed down after some resistance by stakeholders.
There has also been growing concern by registered public transporters who accuse pirate taxis of putting them out of business.
Online Reporter