Online Reporter
Moffat Mungazi
Post Reporter
SECURITY agents in Mutare have intensified enforcement against unlicenced and unregulated pirate taxis, commonly referred to as mushika-shika, to effectively tackle road traffic violations, criminal offences and accidents.
This follows the ongoing clampdown by police on errant motorists whose reckless behaviour on the road is an ever lingering threat to the safety of other users.
At law, these pirate taxis are not designated to carry passengers as public transport operators.
This has resulted in mushika-shika operators continuing to play hide-and-seek with law enforcement agents across the city as the rogue elements employ both unconventional and unlawful means to stay in “business”.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said security agents are maintaining a tough stance against pirate taxis and errant motorists.
He said several arrests have been made, with hundreds of vehicles impounded.
“There is no going back on the crackdown against mushika-shika and other errant motorists. We are ramping up enforcement of the rules and regulations that govern safe road usage across Mutare, both in the city centre and high density suburbs. Pirate taxis are not licenced and insured to carry any passengers. Their operations are, therefore, illegal.
“By Thursday (yesterday) morning, 202 arrests had been made and hundreds of vehicles impounded for various road traffic violations and offences. We are out in full force and geared to decisively deal with this menace and put it to an end so that sanity and safety returns to our roads,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
He added that the whole initiative and process of tackling the mushika-shika menace is meticulous in order to achieve the desired outcomes.
“We are, not only chasing after mushika-shika, but are also netting them. All arrests are followed by a thorough vetting and verification process to establish if the impounded vehicles and drivers do not have any pending criminal charges or offences. Our Vehicle Theft Squad teams then get to verify if vehicles being used as pirate taxis have not been stolen or were previously used in other criminal activities,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka. Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said this approach has helped the police to account for some cases like hit-and-run accidents.
“We are also taking particular interest in vehicles with shattered windscreens and dents as this may be proof that they were involved in an accident. This has been crucial in aiding our investigations into solving some cases, especially hit-and-run accidents or those that would have evaded the police,” he said. He warned that repeated offenders will be sternly dealt with as a deterrent measure.Assistant Inspector Chinyoka urged the public to be responsible by shunning pirate taxis.
“Because mushika-shika is illegal, they are bound to be involved in criminal activities owing to the nature of their operations. The police continue receiving reports of pickpocketing as people lose their valuables while riding on these pirate taxis. In most situations, these pirate taxis are overloaded and it creates the breeding ground for pickpockets to thrive. The public must shun using these mushika-shika and only use registered transport operators,” he said.
