Pirate taxi chaos engulfs Gweru

Gweru which is referred to as the “City of Progress” seems to be actually moving in the opposite direction due to the lawlessness in the public transport sector.

It is the law of the jungle in the transport sector dominated by unregistered vehicles plying different routes across the city.

The situation has created a nightmare for commuting residents travelling from their different suburbs to town or to industrial areas.

The growing number of unregistered pirate taxis has caused disorderliness in the city thereby inconveniencing commuters.

What is disturbing is that no action is being taken against these pirate taxis commonly known as Mshikashika by either the police or Gweru City Council.

These unregistered vehicles operate from undesignated places such as in front of OK Supermarket, Morah shop and opposite DST.

Those plying the City-Senga route pick up passengers at Cathedral Hall .

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko has on many occasions urged commuters to desist from using unregistered or private vehicles for their own safety.

Recently, a 27-year-old woman was allegedly robbed by a pirate taxi driver from town to Mkoba suburb.

The woman, believed to have been coming from South Africa, was robbed of US$930, R1 100 and other valuables.

The woman is said to have boarded a grey Honda Fit along Lobengula Avenue on her way home.

Upon reaching Takwirira Primary School in Mkoba 17, the driver stopped the car and assaulted her with a big stick and ordered her to surrender all her valuables while threatening to kill her.

He took a Samsung A3 cellphone, a Black Nokia cellphone, two bags containing clothes, groceries and the money and ordered her to disembark before driving off.

Chairman of Gweru Residents Trust (GRT) Mr Anthony Madzivanyika said:”There is a need for the City of Gweru to bring sanity in the transport sector.”

He said the commuting public can only be guaranteed safety if they use registered commuter omnibuses as opposed to pirate taxis.

Mr Madzivanyika said there should be designated dropping and pick up points in the city.

“Only registered commuter omnibuses should be allowed to operate in the city in order to bring order in the transport sector,” he said.

The council recently issued a notice to all public transport operators, including commuter omnibuses, warning them to obtain route specification letters and parking disk.

Council set tomorrow as a deadline for all operators to comply with the new requirement.

To obtain the route specification letter, council requires operators to submit an application letter, operator’s licence, passenger insurance, vehicle insurance, vehicle registration book, parking disk, rates clearance, certificate of fitness and proof of residence

Application fees range from US$119,60 to US$143,52 depending on the vehicle size.

The local authority has also reminded public transport operators that the only approved parking spaces are Kudzanayi rank, Old TM rank,and First Street ranking Space (Popularly known as Amtec Rank near Tile and Carpet).

The local authority assured the public that the new measures would help improve the safety and quality of public transportation in the city.

“Notice is hereby given to all public transport operators (Commuter Omnibuses) in Gweru that it is illegal to operate without route specification letter and parking disk from the City of Gweru being the Local Planning Authority. All the Commuter Omnibuses operators that do not have the above said are advised to visit City of Gweru offices, Engineering Services Department and Town Planning offices,” read the notice.

Mshikashika operators are not exempt and must regularise their operations within the specified period.

“Mshikashika Operators will not be spared in the process of bringing sanity to the City public transport management and are therefore advised to regularise their operations within the specified period,” said council.