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Heather Charema Correspondent
Chinhoyi commuter omnibus operators on Wednesday engaged in sporadic turf wars with pirate taxi crews in the central business district (CBD). The operators also called on the authorities to intervene and ban pirate taxis they accused of unlawfully prejudicing them of their business since they were unregistered. A commuter omnibus operator, Mr David Jemwa, said the war against pirate taxis would not end.

“This war is not going to end easily,” he said. “We have been loyal, but it is not paying to be loyal. These pirate taxis operate illegally without licences and without paying taxes. Now they are enjoying at our expense.

“At least the police, the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) and the town council are now able to understand our cries. We want the pirate taxis banned in the CBD so that they pay licences and contribute taxes.” A pirate taxi driver, Mr Brighton Chiparira, said the lack of employment opportunities gave them no option, but to try to compete for business.

“Chinhoyi is a small town where many people used to be employed by big companies like Cold Storage Company and Golden Kopje Mine, but those companies are no longer operating, so all the youths who completed studies start this business as a way of earning a living,” he said.

Mr Chiparira also vowed not to abandon his pirate taxi.

“We are not going to stop operating as taxi operators because this is our only source of income,” he said. “The police and VID should consider that before they chase us out of town without an alternative.”

Chinhoyi Municipality spokesperson Mr Tichaona Mlauzi said the authorities had since convened a meeting with stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the problem.