ONE of the touts believed to be leading running battles between traffic police and pirate taxis along Robert Mugabe Road was arrested on Friday. Amos “Gumbura” Arufaneti has been leading touts to load commuter omnibuses and mushikashikas at undesignated points.
Harare provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the arrest and warned drivers defying police orders that they face arrest and their vehicles impounded. Inspector Chakanza said:
“Police have intensified their fight to clear all pirate taxis picking and dropping off passengers in the Central Business District. One of the touts was on Friday arrested, and a number of pirate taxis impounded for loading their vehicles at undesignated points. All drivers endangering pedestrians by evading arrest, speeding off and engaging in running battles with traffic police will surely face the wrath of the law.
“We are urging people to board registered buses and commuter omnibuses at designated pick-up points. It needs police and commuters to work together in bringing order to our CBD. Avoid boarding mshikashikas since most of them are being used in committing crimes like robbery and rape.”
Gumbura said:
“Ndasungwa zvangu nekuti ndakabudiswa muH-Metro. Dai pasina izvozvo ndingadai ndichi loader mota. I have been a tout for years, and I lost some tooth during fights. Zita rekuti Gumbura ndakariwana nekuti rurimi rwangu rwunogona kutsvetera kunyanya panoti madzimai apa, ndarwa nevarume vakawanda ndavatorera. I do not know how they took pictures of me, exposing me to the police.”
Police have been fighting a losing battle in clearing illegal transport operators in the CBD. Almost every street corner has been turned into a pick-up and drop off point by the rude and abrasive mshikashika drivers and their touts.
