Police Launch Operation Against Pirate Taxis
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched an operation targeting pirate taxis (mushikashika) mostly unregistered Toyota Wish, Honda Fit and Toyota Vitz vehicles following an increase in armed robbery and rape cases countrywide.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi police are also conducting awareness campaigns urging people to desist from boarding such types of vehicles.
He said they were concerned with such cases and that people are not taking heed of their warnings as they continue falling prey to these criminals. Said Asst Comm Nyathi:
We are concerned about an increase in robbery cases that are being used to commit armed robberies and rape cases countrywide and we would want to continue urging people to prioritise their safety and security by desisting from boarding such vehicles as this would expose them to criminals.
Besides arrests of armed robbers by the police, we have launched an operation targeting pirate taxis and we are also conducting awareness campaigns countrywide.
Last Thursday at 11.45 am, a 24-year-old man was robbed of a cellphone and cash, all valued at US$487, after boarding a silver Toyota Wish at Newlands roundabout.
On the same day at around noon, a woman aged 21 was raped and robbed of US$70, RTGS$320 and other valuables after boarding an unregistered silver Toyota Wish along Chiremba Road, Hatfield.
The next day at around 11.45 am another woman aged 23 was also raped after boarding an unregistered white Toyota Wish with two men aboard near Mufakose High 1, on her way to Budiriro.
