News / Local
Police, Kombi war erupts in the city
29 Aug 2012 at 04:26hrs | Views
SCORES of commuters from the eastern suburbs were yesterday stranded after a police crackdown on pirate taxis as the ongoing "Operation 100 percent decongest" the city extended to unregistered operators.
The operation, aimed at reducing traffic accidents by banning kombis from passing through the city centre was launched in July.
Commuter omnibus drivers reportedly ran a parallel operation as they teamed up and ordered the pirate taxis to surrender passengers to them.
Some commuters had to board three vehicles to get to the city centre.
"I had to board thrice before I got to town. The police on the road would ask all the passengers to disembark from the car and then impound it. Every time it happened, we were forced to board another vehicle," said a man who declined to be named.
A driver told Chronicle that kombis had stopped plying the Matopos route because pirate taxis had flooded the route. "We want to reclaim the route because we are paying route permit fees for it," said the driver, who asked not to be named.
Another driver said kombi operators had formed patrol groups on the Sauerstown, North End, Queens Park and Kingsdale routes to block pirate taxis.
Contacted for comment, Mr Strike Ndlovu, the Bulawayo Public Transporters Association (BUPTA) chairperson said he was aware that something was being done by the transport operators to curb the problem of pirate taxis.
He, however, said he was not part of the exercise by kombi drivers.
"I am not part of this, go to Egodini (Basch Street terminus) and ask those who ply the Matopos route. They will tell you how they are doing it," said Mr Ndlovu.
Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Bekimpilo Ndlovu said the clampdown on pirate taxis was a continuation of the operation to decongest the city.
He explained that police were cracking down on all unregistered vehicles.
Asst Insp Ndlovu said police had the mandate to protect life by all means possible hence they could not fold their arms when unregistered vehicles, which were not insured to compensate passengers in case of an accident, ferried "innocent" commuters.
"Most of these pirate taxis have not passed the VID roadworthy tests hence it is very dangerous for the commuters," said Asst Insp Ndlovu.
He said the police had not received any news about kombi drivers taking passengers away from pirate taxis.
Asst Insp Ndlovu confirmed that in several meetings the police have held with BUPTA, commuter omnibus owners have often complained that they were losing business to unregistered taxis and private cars.
"All those people driving unregistered vehicles should be warned that the police will catch up with them. They definitely won't elude the wrath of the law," said Asst Insp Ndlovu.
He said the police would remain on the roads until sanity prevailed.
Asst Insp Ndlovu encouraged commuter omnibus operators to abide by traffic laws and use designated routes.
Scores of kombis and hundreds of drivers have been fined for flouting regulations in the ongoing operation.
The operation, aimed at reducing traffic accidents by banning kombis from passing through the city centre was launched in July.
Commuter omnibus drivers reportedly ran a parallel operation as they teamed up and ordered the pirate taxis to surrender passengers to them.
Some commuters had to board three vehicles to get to the city centre.
"I had to board thrice before I got to town. The police on the road would ask all the passengers to disembark from the car and then impound it. Every time it happened, we were forced to board another vehicle," said a man who declined to be named.
A driver told Chronicle that kombis had stopped plying the Matopos route because pirate taxis had flooded the route. "We want to reclaim the route because we are paying route permit fees for it," said the driver, who asked not to be named.
Another driver said kombi operators had formed patrol groups on the Sauerstown, North End, Queens Park and Kingsdale routes to block pirate taxis.
Contacted for comment, Mr Strike Ndlovu, the Bulawayo Public Transporters Association (BUPTA) chairperson said he was aware that something was being done by the transport operators to curb the problem of pirate taxis.
He, however, said he was not part of the exercise by kombi drivers.
"I am not part of this, go to Egodini (Basch Street terminus) and ask those who ply the Matopos route. They will tell you how they are doing it," said Mr Ndlovu.
Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Bekimpilo Ndlovu said the clampdown on pirate taxis was a continuation of the operation to decongest the city.
He explained that police were cracking down on all unregistered vehicles.
Asst Insp Ndlovu said police had the mandate to protect life by all means possible hence they could not fold their arms when unregistered vehicles, which were not insured to compensate passengers in case of an accident, ferried "innocent" commuters.
"Most of these pirate taxis have not passed the VID roadworthy tests hence it is very dangerous for the commuters," said Asst Insp Ndlovu.
He said the police had not received any news about kombi drivers taking passengers away from pirate taxis.
Asst Insp Ndlovu confirmed that in several meetings the police have held with BUPTA, commuter omnibus owners have often complained that they were losing business to unregistered taxis and private cars.
"All those people driving unregistered vehicles should be warned that the police will catch up with them. They definitely won't elude the wrath of the law," said Asst Insp Ndlovu.
He said the police would remain on the roads until sanity prevailed.
Asst Insp Ndlovu encouraged commuter omnibus operators to abide by traffic laws and use designated routes.
Scores of kombis and hundreds of drivers have been fined for flouting regulations in the ongoing operation.
Source - TC
