…as 80 mushika shika vehicles impounded
EDWIN MOYO
Gweru-Police in Gweru has impounded mushika shika vehicles following a public outcry over a spate of armed robberies in and around the city of progress.
The development was confirmed by Midlands Provincial Police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko yesterday during an interview with The Midweek Watch.
“May the general public be informed that, in Gweru Urban District, we are running an operation against the illegal conduct of public passenger service businesses by unlicensed motor vehicles commonly referred to as Mshika-shika.
“We are on record for a long time warning owners of private motor vehicles with interests in passenger transport business that they should regularise their operations by applying for operator’s licenses.
“We have moved a gear up to remove them from the roads. We expect cooperation as this is in terms of the Law. Motorists that ignore our calls will have their vehicles being impounded and charged under the Road Motor Transportation Act Chapter 13:15,” said Mahoko.
“For now we are accepting fines from those who admit their offences. Those who wish to be heard in court will be afforded the opportunity. Repeat offenders will also be taken to court. “So far, we have impounded a total of 80 vehicles, 42 Honda fits and 38 commuter omnibuses,” he added.
However, Police also cautioned members of the public that of late they were grappling with armed Robberies where private motor vehicles purporting to be pirating for public passenger transport services were involved.
One of the mushika shika drivers from Ascot expressed concern over the operation saying some of the vehicles were impounded without fault.
“I am a driver I usually operate from DST, Morar Corner, I can say I am luck I managed to escape but the operation was very intense this past week. A lot of cars and commuter onimbuses were taken and some were road worthy with all papers and without fault.
“The criteria they were using to impound the vehicle I feel was not fair. We have vehicles which are in bad shape and which can simply be identified to be used for crimes,” he added
Early this past week, reports emerged that one of the mushika shika vehicles which ply the Gweru Town-Ascot route had been spotted in a hit and run incident after injuring a Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) Officer.
The officer reportedly suffered a severe left hand fracture after he pounced on one of the mushika shika drivers for unknown reason on May 15, 2023 and efforts to locate the suspect are still in progress.
Drivers and the general public are alleging that the unfortunate incident led to the Police operation, which even saw the law enforcement agents descending on vendors who were selling their wares in pavements and roadsides across town.
Efforts to get a comment from the Gweru VID Department regarding the incident were fruitless as managers could not be located until the time of posting the story.
