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Ruth Chipayi Herald reporter
Harare City Council on Monday launched a shuttle bus service in a move expected to bring sanity to the central business district. Pirate taxis, dubbed mshika-shika, had turned the city into a traffic jungle.

Speaking at the launch, City of Harare human capital director Mr Cainos Chingombe said the introduction of the shuttle bus service should make CBD roads more trafficable.

“We take pride in officially launching the shuttle bus service that will provide our commuting public with convenience, safety and reliability. These 10 buses on show today will do a nonstop round-robin from Fourth Street to Copacabana to Market Square to Charge Office and back to Fourth Street.

“We are looking forward to extending the service to the Avenues (area) as well. The vehicles are fully insured and will offer comfort to the public. There will no longer be dangling persons, he said.

Mr Chingombe challenged mshika-shika operators to buy bigger buses and register with council.

“We urge the current mshika shika operators to follow suit and buy bigger vehicles that they register with the council.

“Council realises the important part played by the operators and is willing to meaningfully engage them to devise lasting solutions,” he said.

Mr Chingombe said the operation was a response to calls by the public to reclaim ownership of streets and roads.