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Crime Reporter
At least 70 more drivers of pirate taxis and unregistered vehicles were arrested in Harare yesterday as the operation targeting them continues in and around the city with 459 cars now impounded.
So far, over 640 drivers of pirate taxis usually called mushikashika, unregistered cars, street kids controlling traffic and vendors operating at intersections have been arrested in Harare during the major police operation aimed at restoring order to the streets and de-congesting the city.
Apart from the police, the operation included other stakeholders such as the Zimbabwe National Road Administration, Vehicle Inspection Department, the Department of Social Welfare and the four Harare Metropolitan local authorities: Chitungwiza Municipality, Epworth Local Board, Harare City Council and Ruwa Local Board.
In Harare, the operation was conducted in the full range of police districts: Harare Central, Harare Suburban, Mbare, Chitungwiza, Traffic, Harare East, Harare South and Harare North.
Of the 663 arrested, 459 are motorists who had their cars impounded, 164 were vendors, 21 illegal money-changers and 19 street kids or vagrants.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the operation will restore sanity.
Police have reiterated that the public must avoid boarding pirate taxis or using their private vehicles as pirate taxis as they risk falling prey to robbers.
Only Zupco buses, long distance buses and Zupco-affiliated kombis are allowed to operate as public transport.
Police in Harare Province on Tuesday said they were worried by the congestion during peak hours and the number of criminal cases emanating from the pirate taxis and non-Zupco kombis and buses.
A number of robberies, rapes and thefts have occurred where victims fall prey to the illegal transporters who present themselves as genuine transporters.
Every week, many passengers and motorists have lost cash, cars and goods to armed robbers in separate incidents while a motorcycle belonging to the Government was stolen at a clinic in Shamva, with reports of crimes continuing to be made countrywide.
Most of the passengers were robbed after being offered lifts in and around Harare.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, police in Norton recorded a case of robbery where a 49-year-old man lost a Mazda Premacy vehicle (ACY 5103), US$100 cash, a WI-FI router, Huawei Y5 cellphone, and a DSTV LNB, to two robbers at the 24 km peg along Harare-Bulawayo Road.
The victim had offered a lift to the duo who posed as genuine transport seekers destined for Norton, at the Whitehouse bus stop near Kuwadzana.
It is alleged that along the way, the suspects attacked him and took away his valuables before dumping him on the roadside.
Investigations are still in progress.
Online Reporter