Masvingo launches pirate taxis blitz

Walter Mswazie, Masvingo Correspondent
THE Masvingo City Council in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) and other stakeholders, has launched a blitz to remove unlicensed taxis operating in the Central Business District.

Acting chamber secretary Mr Vitalis Shonhayi said most taxis operating in the CBD were unregistered and causing unnecessary congestion in the city.

“Council has given a period of three months to clear unregistered taxis from the CBD but we have started today,” said Mr Shonhayi.

He said council was working on regulatory signs on all roads in preparation of the blitz on illegal taxis, as the local authority sought to bring order to the city.

“We have realised of late that there is a lot of lawlessness being perpetrated by illegal taxis in our city and these vehicles should be removed.

“We are also making road signs that will help motorists realise that they do not park or load passengers from anywhere.

“We are targeting Croco Motors along Bradbern Street, the illegal parking space at Family of God Church along Mutare Road and the illegal parking space at Charter Box along Hofmeyer Street,” he said.

Mr Shonhayi said illegal taxis were violating council-by laws through dropping and picking passengers from undesignated points, especially in the CBD.

“Long distance buses and kombis should load passengers from Mucheke Bus Terminus in Mucheke Suburb and near the Flea Market, respectively. Of late we have seen long distance buses loading in town, that is illegal,” he said.

Mr Shonhayi appealed to commuters not to board unregistered taxis as it is not only illegal but a risk to their lives since most of those vehicles had no licences.

The emergence of illegal taxis comprising Toyota Vitz and mostly Toyota Funcargo has created serious congestion in the city as the unregistered taxis now pick commuters anywhere, depriving registered commuter omnibuses of potential revenue.

Commuter omnibus operators in Masvingo are on record complaining against the continued operations of illegal taxis which do not pay any tax to council or the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority. — @walterbmswazie2