shloboe boe
Temba Dube
Zimpapers Metros Deputy Editor
THIEVES love it.Cops stop it. Drivers fear it.
In Zimbabwe, the Honda Fit has become a rolling symbol of mayhem — the city’s most stolen car, a favourite among criminals and a certified road menace.
According to police, the Fit tops the charts in car thefts. On 17 March 2023, two Fits vanished in a single day — one from Pumula East and another from Basch Street in the CBD in Bulawayo. “They took it like they had a remote,” said witness Lindiwe Dube. “Not even a sound. It just disappeared.”
But it’s not just about theft. The Honda Fit is now the unofficial getaway car for muggings, robberies and even rape cases. In April 2024, a man was strangled and robbed after catching a Fit acting as a pirate taxi, along 6th Avenue Extension in Bulawayo. His crime? Trusting the wrong ride.
In Mabvuku, Harare, police recovered a stolen Fit that had been converted into a mushikashika with fake foreign plates — far from its original home in Bulawayo.
“They’re cheap, fast and don’t stand out,” said kombi driver Tinashe Moyo from Zvishavane. “Perfect for vanishing after a hit.”
The vehicle is always on the cops’ radar!
Police confirm that at almost every roadblock, a Honda Fit is pulled over. “They’re flagged constantly,” said one officer. “So many of them are unregistered or operating illegally.”
And that’s no exaggeration. Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi is on record saying the force is fed up with the Honda Fit menace. In April 2024, he said:
“Many Honda Fit drivers are negligent by nature and that’s why most of their cars are battered. We are tired of the reckless behaviour on the roads.”
Back in 2022, Nyathi also warned drivers to avoid picking up strangers — especially when using pirate taxis like the Fit — as many criminal cases stemmed from robberies, kidnappings and hijackings in these vehicles.
“People should be careful about who they pick up. Some of these suspects pretend to be genuine passengers, only to turn on the driver once inside,” he said.
And if you think the danger ends at theft — think again.
The Fit is chaos on wheels.
Motorists countrywide say Fit drivers treat the roads like racetracks. Most pirate taxi operators don’t even have proper licences.
“It’s like they own the roads,” complained motorist, Pamela Sibanda from Masvingo. “There’s a saying now — ‘The Fit always has right of way.’ Even if you’re on green, if a Fit’s coming, let it pass… or you’ll die with your right of way.”
The vehicle is also alarmingly durable. In many accidents, the Fit walks away better than the other car. Some even cite the infamous Ginimbi crash of November 2020 — while his Rolls Royce was a wreck, the Honda Fit it collided with was damaged, but not mangled beyond recognition.
“Those things are like cockroaches — hard to kill,” joked Bulawayo mechanic, Bongani Ncube.
So, what is it about the Honda Fit?
Cheap parts. Easy to steal. Low fuel. Blends in. And apparently, it bounces back from crashes.
From high-speed chases to roadside heists and reckless driving, the Fit has earned its infamous nickname in Zimbabwe: The Crime Fit.
As one taxi rank vendor summed it up:
“If you see a Fit at night — pray. If you’re driving and see one — brake. And if you own one — better get a tracker and a miracle.”
In Zimbabwe, the Fit isn’t just a car. It’s a warning on wheels.
Online Reporter