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Minister of Transport probed over illegal pirate taxis
17 Mar 2018 at 08:17hrs | Views
MDC proportional representation legislator Jessamine Tofa has questioned the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Jorum Gumbo if it was a government policy to allow pirate taxis to ply the country's routes.
Tofa made the remarks during parliament sitting on Tuesday.
"My question is directed to the Acting Leader of the House. Is it Government policy to allow Government and private owned vehicles to operate on the road without licences? If it is not, would the Minister instruct or advise the Minister of Home Affairs to correct the situation and enforce the law. It is almost like having masked people driving around the country and also promoting criminal activities," she said.
In response minister Gumbo said government policy is that those who drive along roads must have a driver's licence which is not fake but a true driver's licence issued by the Government of Zimbabwe.
"Also those who might be driving other vehicles on the roads, like buses and combis, they must have a road permit which is issued by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development. I take the point that there are many people who are possibly driving along the roads without the requisite licences or number plates for their cars, et cetera, I think the point and suggestion made is well taken. I will liaise immediately with the Minister of Home Affairs to make sure they police the roads and make sure that they arrest the situation. It so happens that I am the Acting Minister of Home Affairs, so I will act on that as soon as I leave here," he said.
Tofa further asked the minister to confirm that it is illegal to have a vehicle without number plates on the road.
Gumbo said "Number plates for a vehicle is a requirement that you must always have them on your car but if you have lost your number plates or the car is still to be provided with number plates, you are given a period by which time you should have the number plates put on the car. Going around without number plates is unlawful."
Tofa made the remarks during parliament sitting on Tuesday.
"My question is directed to the Acting Leader of the House. Is it Government policy to allow Government and private owned vehicles to operate on the road without licences? If it is not, would the Minister instruct or advise the Minister of Home Affairs to correct the situation and enforce the law. It is almost like having masked people driving around the country and also promoting criminal activities," she said.
In response minister Gumbo said government policy is that those who drive along roads must have a driver's licence which is not fake but a true driver's licence issued by the Government of Zimbabwe.
"Also those who might be driving other vehicles on the roads, like buses and combis, they must have a road permit which is issued by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development. I take the point that there are many people who are possibly driving along the roads without the requisite licences or number plates for their cars, et cetera, I think the point and suggestion made is well taken. I will liaise immediately with the Minister of Home Affairs to make sure they police the roads and make sure that they arrest the situation. It so happens that I am the Acting Minister of Home Affairs, so I will act on that as soon as I leave here," he said.
Tofa further asked the minister to confirm that it is illegal to have a vehicle without number plates on the road.
Gumbo said "Number plates for a vehicle is a requirement that you must always have them on your car but if you have lost your number plates or the car is still to be provided with number plates, you are given a period by which time you should have the number plates put on the car. Going around without number plates is unlawful."
Source - Byo24News
