Pirate taxis are making brisk business after the blitz by Harare City Council to stop commuter omnibuses from entering the central business district (CBD) in a bid to curb traffic congestion.
Report by Tatenda Kunaka
The taxi drivers say the ban of kombis, as commuter omnibuses are commonly referred as, from entering the CBD was a blessing in disguise as their business now flourished.
“The Copacabana route has become our cash cow as commuters look for alternative transport to get to their work places early and to get back to the terminus after work,’’ said a driver who referred to himself as “One who plies the Fourth Street—Copacabana route.”
Most commuters who disembark from the Fourth Street terminus said they now forked out more of their hard-earned cash by paying the bus fare twice in order to get to work early.
“I’m left with no choice but to pay for transport four times a day since my workplace is far away from the designated drop point, so we opt for pirate taxis which are cheaper than the conventional ones,” said Audrey Phiri who works at the Kopje area.
The developments have seen the rise in unregistered taxis who are taking advantage of the present situation.
Registered operators’ business is now on the decline as pirate taxi operators charge R5 for the same trip which the registered operators charge US$3.
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“Relevant authorities must take action since these dubious operators are pricing us out of business, we can’t have a lawless country where these fly-by-night taxis come and do what they want.
“After all, these same people will give our taxi industry a bad name as some will use their vehicles to rob the commuters,” said Andrew Chimusoro, a registered taxi driver.
