HIGH SPEED CHASES AS TAXI WARS ESCALATE

Oswell Moyo Chronicle Reporter
KOMBI Operators in Bulawayo plying the City-Eastern suburbs routes yesterday took their war with pirate taxis to new levels when they blocked the unregistered taxis from ferrying passengers.

A number of commuters were left stranded as the registered commuter omnibuses blocked the pirate taxis and engaged in speed chases at times.

The operation began on Tuesday.

A Chronicle news crew drove to one of the routes plied by the pirate taxis, the Hillside-Burnside route, and saw a number of kombi operators parking their kombis at different bus stops, waiting for the pirate taxis.

One of the kombi operators, Thabani Ncube, said they were blocking pirate taxis because the police were not forthcoming in apprehending pirate taxis.

“We can’t afford to lose business because of pirate taxis. We pay tax to government hence we will stop at nothing in preventing them from picking passengers,” said a visibly angry Ncube.

The kombi operators say pirate taxis were pushing them out of business.

However, commuters told Chronicle they preferred pirate taxis because they were more convenient and had good customer care.

Another driver whose kombi was parked at Bradfield shopping mall said police were the owners of pirate taxis so they were reluctant to arrest them.

“Most pirate taxis are owned by police officers. The police are doing nothing at all hence we have taken it upon ourselves to deal with the pirate taxis. We are the ones who always suffer. Right now I’m struggling to raise school fees for my children and pay rent,” he said.

Police Officer Commanding Traffic in Bulawayo, Chief Superintendent Maxwell Chikunguru, said they were not aware that kombi operators were blocking pirate taxis.

“I can’t comment on the issue because we don’t know anything about it. We will conduct our own investigations. However, we will continue arresting pirate taxis because they are operating illegally thereby depriving government revenue. Quite a number of pirate taxis have been impounded and are parked at Ross Camp Police Station awaiting further screening,” said Chief Sup Chikunguru.

Bulawayo Public Transporters Association Secretary General Albert Ncube could not be reached for comment as he was reported to be in a meeting.

There has been a war between pirate taxis and kombi operators plying Eastern routes over passengers. Last year in October, a police officer lost his life while trying to arrest a driver of a pirate taxi. In November a kombi driver survived death by a whisker when a pirate taxi owner hired bouncers to assault him.

Meanwhile, Associations representing private taxis have expressed disappointment at the action taken by kombi operators.

Express Private Car Commuter Services (EXPRICCOS) chairman, Mpikelelo Khumalo, said kombi operators were supposed to let police and Bulawayo City Council deal with pirate taxis.

“Even though what the pirate taxis are doing is illegal, kombi operators must let the police and city council do their job. We condemn such activities as they may lead to loss of life as these operators fight. How can they become the complainants, judge and prosecutor? Two wrongs do not make a right,” said Khumalo.