Zimbabwe’s law enforcement agents are intensifying efforts to curb the re-emergence of “illegal transport operators” in an endeavour to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The development was announced by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa during Tuesday’s post-cabinet briefing. She observed:
Law enforcement agents are intensifying efforts to curb the re-emergence of illegal transport operators. Seventeen thousand seven hundred and twenty seven (17 727) arrests were made countrywide during the week under review for flouting the various lockdown regulations, bringing the total arrested so far to 607 386.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country in March 2020, the government banned private transport not registered with the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) from carrying members of the public.
The ban created a huge transport shortage as ZUPCO has inadequate vehicles to sustain the demand that has been increasing since the reopening of the economy.
In the recent past, some private commuter omnibus (kombi) operators, started pirating some routes, a development the government is saying was hamstringing efforts to weather the coronavirus storm.
More: Pindula News