Story by Peter Chivhima
PIRATE taxis continue to wreak havoc and endanger lives on the country’s roads, despite repeated warnings and enforcement offensives by law enforcement agents.
Their reckless conduct is not only causing chaos and traffic jams but also putting innocent lives at risk each day.
From speeding to dangerous overtaking and blatant disregard for traffic signals, these Mushikashika operators have turned the country’s roads into death traps.
“This is not good, I think the police must work together with commuter omnibus operators so that there is order in town. Look at what is happening here, they are loading and offloading passengers in the middle of the road. This is bad,” a commuter, Mr Barnabas Mapisa said.
“We are no longer comfortable coming and doing business here because of mushikashika,” another commuter, Vimbai Maredza added.
ZBC News revisited several well-known hotspots in Harare this Monday, where it seems the situation is getting worse when compared to the past years, as commuter omnibus crews continue to flout road rules.
Public outrage is even louder than ever, and their cry is for guaranteed safety.
“We are no longer safe to travel in town because these kombie crews behave as if they are the owners of the road. It is so sad. The police should do something,” a Harare resident, Ms Kundai Kuyeri noted.
“I think the police must also arrest both the owners of the commuter omnibuses for flouting road regulations, and by doing that, this will deter them from giving bad drivers their vehicles,” Harare resident Mr Thomas Kachiti said.
Another Harare Resident, Mr Morgan Chakaipa, said, Harare is no longer safe with these mushikashika operators because they do not even care for our safety.
Despite the ongoing mayhem, the Zimbabwe Republic Police says it is on top of the situation.
“As the Zimbabwe Republic Police, we are arresting unscrupulous drivers. We are also impounding such vehicles,” ZRP National Spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi said.
According to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, approximately 2 000 people die annually in road traffic crashes due to reckless driving.
