143 kombis impounded file pic

Crime Reporter
Police this week impounded 143 commuter omnibuses and pirate taxis in Harare and Bulawayo as the blitz against kombis intensifies countrywide.

Police recently launched an operation code-named ‘Kwete Mushika-shika’ aimed at clamping down on all pirate taxis and ranks in all towns countrywide.

In an interview, the officer commanding National Traffic, Senior Assistant Commissioner Fellie Chikowero-Mjanga, yesterday said the operation was continuing until there was sanity.

“We will continue to intensify the operation in order to clear the central business district (CBD) of illegal passenger pick-up points, popularly known as ‘mushika-shika’ to restore sanity,” she said.

She said on Monday they impounded 39 pirate taxis in the city while 39 other kombis were impounded on Wednesday evening in the CBD.

“We also impounded 65 pirate taxis in Bulawayo and all the drivers will appear in court facing charges of negligent driving,” Snr Asst Comm Chikowero-Mjanga said.

She warned unscrupulous kombi operators and pirate taxi drivers who continue to defy police orders that they would face the full wrath of the law.

“We are not going to rest until there is sanity countrywide and those who continue to defy our orders will face the full wrath of the law,” she said.

Last month, police impounded over 100 vehicles in an operation code-named “Kwete Mushika-shika” aimed at clamping down on all pirate taxis and ranks in all towns countrywide.

The operation, which is continuing until the end of the year, was also launched after police noted that most of the vehicles were not roadworthy and did not appear on the Central Vehicle Registry system.

Vehicles that have been impounded so far include commuter omnibuses and private cars that were being used as taxis and shuttles.

Police said the vehicles will not be released until the owners produced authentic documents.

Some of the vehicles are also believed to have been used to commit crimes in the form of hit-and-run accidents while others could have been smuggled since they did not have proper documents.

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