By BRIDGET MABANDA
Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has welcomed the Operation Order “Tame The Jungle” Phase II running from 12 to 26 September 2023 in accordance with the Road Traffic Act Chapter 13:11, Road Motor Transportation Act Chapter 13:10:and City by-laws.
PAZ president, Tafadzwa Goliati said the operation will help to curb lawlessness on the city roads.
He said last Saturday, 9 September, 2023, two women were injured at the corner of Mbuya Nehanda and Kwame Nkrumah and at Seke Road Flyover by commuter omnibus which were fleeing from Police officers.
Goliati however, called on Government to come up with practical strategies in addition to traffic sanitisation through Police.
“To resolve public transport challenges, there is need for a modern national transport policy by Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to address existing challenges,” he said.
He also told The Midweek Watch that stakeholders such as City of Harare, must establish side ranks for pick and drop points, where a passenger service vehicle is not allowed to park for more than 5 minutes because people are losing lives.
“Harare CBD is now overwhelmed by passenger service vehicles, both legal and mushikashika.
“If one is caught on the wrong side of the law, both operators and drivers must be brought to book and licenses cancelled if possible including imprisonment for reckless driving,” he added.
However, the operation has triggered a spike in bus fares due to shortage of compliant vehicles and this is having a negative effect on the travelling public.
In a circular, Criminal Investigation Department acting chief director, Assistant Commissioner Jealous Nyabasa said lawlessness on the roads, especially in major cities, had reached alarming and unacceptable levels.
Nyabasa also said pirate taxis commonly known as mushikashika have almost taken over the passenger service industry and are plying the roads with impunity and public service vehicles are loading and offloading passengers at undesignated points which has resulted in City or town roads becoming impassable.
