Story by Peter Chivhima
PIRATE taxis, commonly known as “mushikashika”, continue to cause chaos in the Harare Central Business District (CBD) at the expense of public safety.
In September this year, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)working together with various government departments launched an operation code-named: ‘Tame the Traffic Jungle,’ in a bid to end lawlessness in major urban centres.
Two months down the line, nothing has changed.
A survey carried out by the ZBC News in Harare this Tuesday, reveals that chaos continues to reign supreme, with pirate taxi operators engaging in running battles with law enforcement agents.
Those who spoke to ZBC News expressed disappointment at the prevailing situation, saying their lives are at risk.
A resident said, “We are at risk with these mushikashika crews. As pedestrians, we are not safe at all because of these illegal pirate taxi operators.”
“Look what these guys are doing, I don’t think that they even respect people. We are not safe, it is risky, especially to us who work here in the CBD,” added another resident.
Reports of commuters falling victim to robbers disguised as pirate taxi operators have also become rife hence calls for unity of purpose in taming the traffic jungle.
“We are witnessing that in our towns, especially here in Harare there is lawlessness due to illegal pirate taxis. We are of the view that there is a need for all departments to work together for the unity of purpose to flash out this lawlessness in our country. At the same time, we are appealing to the government to avail more buses so that we address such issues because we are losing a lot of lives to these mushikashika crews,” said Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trust spokesperson, Mr Shalva Chikomba.
ZRP National Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said, “As the police, we are calling for the nation to join hands in fighting lawlessness on our roads. As police, we cannot win the fight alone. We need to work together so that we win the war. We are doing all we can to bring sanity on the roads.”
The showgrounds area along Harare-Bulawayo Road, Total Services Station along Samora Machel Avenue and Corner Jason Moyo and Harare Streets are the hotspots which resemble a jungle as pirate taxi operators and law enforcement agents play cat-and-mouse games.
