Regularise operations, Shamu tells pirate taxis operators

MASHONALAND West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Webster Shamu has said his office does not condone lawlessness, urging all pirate taxi operators to regularise their operations.

Pirate taxi drivers and registered commuter omnibus operators have been engaged in clashes over routes and pick-up points in Chinhoyi CBD.

The turf wars recently spilled into Minister Shamu’s office, with commuter omnibus operators saying they were being thrown out of business by the pirate taxis, yet they pay taxes.

“Pirate taxi operators came to my office saying they are being arrested by the police and the Vehicle Inspection Department,” said Minister Shamu.

“They even said we are going for elections and because of their numbers, something had to be done to secure Zanu-PF votes. I do not want to be voted into office by someone who wants me to give him a mandate to break the law.”

Minister Shamu said Government wanted the rule of law and discipline to prevail in Zimbabwe.

He called for order in Chinhoyi, as a provincial capital, that would spread to towns and other centres in the province.

“We want to see order,” said Minister Shamu.

“Not that someone feels like they are entering a jungle when they come into Chinhoyi, which is a provincial capital.”

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira recently pledged to engage her Transport and Infrastructural Development counterpart Dr Joram Gumbo to understand how the taxis should operate under the country’s laws.

The pirate taxis, known as mushikashika or tsviriyos, can only be formalised when drivers are registered with the VID, with a clean Class 2 Drivers’ licence.

The drivers are also required to undergo medical examinations, but their representatives want some of these conditions to be set aside. Police in Chinhoyi have also launched a campaign against the unregistered vehicles, impounding more than 55 of the pirate taxes recently.