The City of Bulawayo is mulling a clampdown on pirate taxis, mostly Honda Fit vehicles, which are causing congestion and disorder in the central business district (CBD).
The pirate taxis pick up and drop off passengers at undesignated points resulting in unnecessary congestion.
According to the latest council minutes, Bulawayo councillors said the relevant by-laws should be enforced to remove the pirate taxis from the city’s roads. The minutes read in part:
(Ward 4) Councillor S. (Silas) Chigora applauded Council for the recently ended clean-up campaign and the enforcement of vending by-laws.
He also applauded other stakeholders who had assisted the council in this operation.
He felt that enforcement should continue and also be extended to illegal pirate taxis, mostly Honda Fits. Illegal pirate taxis had invaded areas adjacent to the City Hall.
There was a lot of fouling in those areas. The relevant by-laws should be enforced. A clean City attracted investors.
In response, Deputy Mayor Councillor Mlandu Ncube assured councillors that the pirate taxis menace will be attended to. He said:
The enforcement would also be done on illegal pirate taxis. Councillors should also attend Committee meetings and raise issues and their suggested solutions to some of the problems affecting the city.
| B-Metro