Story by Peter Chivhima
Criminal syndicates, touts and rank marshals continue to cause chaos in Harare at the expense of public safety.
A survey conducted by the ZBC News at local and long-distance pick-up points in Harare this Tuesday revealed that some transport operators and touts have become a law unto themselves.
The Showgrounds area along Harare-Bulawayo Road, Road Port area along Harare-Mutare Road and Second Street along Harare-Bindura Highway have been turned into a haven of chaos as illegal transport operators and law enforcement agents play cat-and-mouse games.
The rallying call by law-abiding citizens is a return to order and the law to take its course.
“We are calling for our youths not to be influenced to engage in violence but to work for the development of the nation. President Emmerson Mnangagwa always encourages youths to work hard and contribute to the nation.
“So, we are calling transport operators to emulate what we are doing here as local transporters to come into associations so that it becomes easy to monitor their operations. There is no need for promoting lawlessness such as engaging in violence or touting,” said Lifestyle Motors Youth Association’s secretary general, Mr Nathan Masvon’a.
ZUDCO commuter Service president, Mr Fredrick Maguramhinga said, “We are not happy with what is happening on our ranks, especially highways. We need to resolve our differences amicably. We want to thank the government for opening the sector for us to work so, we need to uphold that. However, we want to assure the public that we are going to sit together and map the way forward so that we clean the messy.”
The Police have since reacted with hundreds of people having been arrested in the ongoing blitz targeting touts across the country.
ZRP National Spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi said, “Since the 7th of this month, we have arrested 677 touts and impounded 1 577 vehicles under the operation ‘No to Mushikashika’. What we are calling is for the public to comply with the police so that they can help in bringing sanity to the country.”
The recent mayhem, which rocked Mutare last week and left several vehicles damaged and two people seriously injured is not an isolated case, with similar cases being reported countrywide.
In 2017, Marshal Gore of Glen Norah died after he was manhandled by touts while intending to board a bus near Roadport Bus Terminus along Robert Mugabe Road.
In 2020, 63-year-old, Anias Chiyangwa died after he was assaulted by three touts along High Glen Road in Harare.
