Harare – The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched a major operation targeting pirate taxis (mushikashika), touts, and reckless drivers, resulting in the arrest of over 1,000 people in Harare since 22 July 2025. The ongoing operation aims to restore order on the city’s roads and clamp down on unregulated public transport operations, according to a ZRP statement released on Saturday.
The ZRP revealed that 1,050 arrests have been made in Harare alone since the operation began. A significant number of pirate taxis have been impounded as part of this intensified effort.
“Of the 479 impounded vehicles, 10 have been established to be stolen vehicles. The cases are now being investigated by the CID Vehicle Theft Squad (VTS),” the police statement reads. Police also noted that some of the seized vehicles were unregistered, underscoring the scale of illegal operations within Harare’s transport sector.
In addition to the impounded vehicles, the operation has targeted the pervasive issue of touts operating in the city. “Some of the touts have been taken to court and remanded to 31 July 2025, while others paid deposit fines. A number of them are also being screened for repeat offences and will face further action by the courts,” the ZRP stated. So far, 308 touts have been apprehended. Repeat offenders are being screened for possible tougher legal consequences.
The crackdown has also exposed a concerning trend of motorists flouting the law and evading law enforcement. According to the ZRP, 551 traffic violators fled from police checkpoints during the operation. “These drivers drove away or escaped upon approaching police checkpoints. The vehicle registration numbers will be published soon to assist in locating and prosecuting the offenders,” the statement added. The ZRP has indicated that it will soon publish a list of the violators’ licence plate numbers to aid in their identification and arrest.
The ZRP has appealed to the public to assist in promoting road discipline and curbing lawlessness on the roads. “We urge all motorists and commuters to observe the country’s road rules and regulations as we work together to ensure road safety,” the police statement concluded.
This operation comes amid growing public frustration over the chaos caused by unregulated taxis and touts, particularly in the capital’s central business district and along key commuter routes. The situation has prompted strong reactions from the highest levels of government.
Mnangagwa expressed his horror at the crash, which occurred on Chitungwiza Road when a South Africa-registered haulage truck collided head-on with a commuter omnibus headed to St Mary’s. Among the deceased were two children and two pedestrians, according to witnesses.
“The crash… painfully reminds us as a Nation of the multiple hazards which continue to stalk our roads, many of which can easily be prevented through responsible driving and effective enforcement of traffic rules,” Mnangagwa stated. “We cannot continue to lose lives in this most horrendous way due to sheer recklessness and persistent gaps in law enforcement,” he added.
In his condolence message, Mnangagwa stressed that the crackdown must be enforced without fear or favour. He stated that existing rules and regulations must now give way to new, more robust measures that deliver tangible results. “The time has come to raise the stakes against guilty parties. The cost of bad behaviour on our roads must simply outweigh whatever bizarre benefits those responsible believe they gain from reckless driving.”
“My directive is for all Government institutions involved in traffic enforcement, along with our courts, to align on this matter so that this seemingly endless, yet avoidable, bloody spiral on our roads is brought to an immediate end.” Mnangagwa directed that all relevant government institutions, including traffic police and the judiciary, align their operations to enforce stronger measures without fear or favour. He warned that the cost of reckless driving must “outweigh whatever bizarre benefits those responsible think they derive.”
Under the disaster declaration, the government will cover funeral expenses for the deceased and hospital bills for the injured. The president’s remarks come as the country prepares to observe Heroes and Defence Forces holidays. He urged all motorists to exercise caution. “Together, and through a shared sense of responsibility, we will tame what has now become a bloody traffic jungle on our roads and thoroughfares,” Mnangagwa said.
Speaking at a funeral service held at Doves Funeral Parlour in Chitungwiza, Local Government and Public Works Minister Dr Daniel Garwe said plans were underway to ban the illegal taxis. “We are going to look into banning mushikashika because they have caused lots of accidents,” he said.
In line with these efforts, the City of Harare has unveiled ambitious plans to overhaul its transport system. The city intends to ban commuter omnibuses (kombis) within the next three years and outlaw pirate taxis (mishikashika) with immediate effect. The plan is outlined in the recently adopted Harare master plan covering 2025-45, which aims to address concerns about road safety and modernise the city’s transport system.
The ban on kombis and pirate taxis, which are often blamed for flouting road regulations and contributing to fatal accidents in Harare and other urban areas across Zimbabwe, is a key component of the master plan. While the government had previously banned commuter omnibuses during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were later permitted to return to the roads after the easing of restrictions.
According to the Harare master plan, “Policy 109” dictates the banning of commuter omnibuses in Harare within the next three years, while “Policy 110” enforces an immediate ban on pirate taxis.
The decision to ban kombis, which are relied upon by a significant portion of the city’s population, has raised concerns about the availability of alternative transport options. About half of Harare residents depend on kombis, buses, and pirate taxis for their daily commute, while 16.9% walk, and 28.5% use private vehicles. Experts have cautioned that the ban must be accompanied by the provision of adequate and reliable alternative modes of transport to avoid disrupting the commuting public.
The master plan also addresses other forms of transport within the city. It stipulates that all three-wheeled taxis are prohibited from operating on Harare roads and mandates that all ride-hailing operators submit GPS telemetry data and monthly ridership reports to the director of urban planning with immediate effect. Non-compliant companies face a ban from operating within the city.
The master plan further proposes that the City of Harare engages the State through the Local Government and Public Works ministry and the Transport and Infrastructural Development ministry for the return of motor vehicle licensing to the city. It also calls for the allocation of Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) funds proportional to the number of vehicles registered in the city for funding road improvements.
The report highlights the inadequacy of existing bus termini in the central business district, which are unable to cope with the volume of buses and commuter omnibuses. “The operators are now parking their buses and kombis around the ranks, blocking traffic and causing congestion. There are no marked drop-off zones in the CBD bus termini. On some ranks, there are multiple entry and exit points and this makes it difficult to control traffic in the termini,” the report read.
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