Commuters warned against boarding private cars at night

The Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has urged commuters who work late or engage in night-time activities to avoid boarding private vehicles, warning that criminals are increasingly using them to target unsuspecting passengers.

In a statement, PAZ said it had noted a worrying trend in which robbers allegedly use private vehicles while posing as legitimate ride-hailing operators or pirate taxi drivers.

The association urged commuters to remain vigilant and use trusted and registered public transport operators, particularly at night.

"For your safety, please use registered public service vehicles with red numbers on white plates only," PAZ said.

The warning comes after an incident in which a fast-food manager was allegedly attacked by robbers in Harare on Thursday evening.

According to PAZ, the victim was assaulted with a hammer and forced to surrender money from his wallet.

"The robbers also forced him to reveal his PIN. He was severely injured and dumped at an unknown location," the association said.

PAZ urged commuters to exercise caution when accepting transport from unfamiliar drivers, particularly late at night.

The association said passengers should verify that vehicles are registered public service vehicles before boarding and avoid accepting lifts from private cars purporting to offer transport services.

The warning comes amid concerns over passenger safety, with PAZ urging commuters to prioritise registered and traceable transport operators when travelling at night.