Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke
Harare City Council has started enforcing some of its by-laws which had hitherto not been enforced, through rolling out joint inspections and imposing a US$154 fine on unregistered taxis operating in the capital.
The enforcement is aimed at restoring order in the capital’s transport system. Harare City Council has stepped up enforcement of its long-neglected municipal by-laws, introducing a coordinated inspection system and punitive fines to curb unregistered taxi operations.
City chamber secretary Mr Warren Chiwawa said the local authority had taken a deliberate stance to tighten compliance after years of fragmented enforcement.
Council has introduced stiff penalties for taxis and kombis operating illegally.
“Various units of council have been brought together to enforce these by-laws at intensified levels,” he said.
“Building inspectors, municipal police, the fire brigade, environmental health officers and revenue officers are now working as one team. This holistic approach allows us to assess compliance in every respect at a single premise.
“An ordinary traffic violation for a private vehicle attracts US$34. However, for an unregistered kombi or taxi, an additional US$120 is charged for operating without registration, plus administration, giving a total of US$154. This fine is both punitive and dissuasive.”
Mr Chiwawa said the previous system, where departments operated separately, weakened regulation.
“There had been a silo approach in the enforcement of by-laws. This new model ensures that every premise we visit is fully compliant,” he said.
He said the council was balancing strictness with fairness.
“As a way of encouraging compliance, a lenient approach has been adopted towards those with proper papers,” he said.
Mr Chiwawa said regular awareness campaigns were being carried out to encourage illegal operators to regularise their operations.
