'Mechova' Could Kill Taxi Trade

Ike Vavi
Correspondent | Monday September 20, 2010 00:00

The police have tried to stop them. Nevertheless, they continue to eat and destroy the taxi industry.

These are illegal taxis or 'mechova' as they are commonly called. Their appearance on our roads has resulted in some form of a hide and seek game with traffic officers. Members of the public are slammed for not playing an active role in trying to curb this problem.

For Chebukani Lisenda, a taxi operator in Francistown, 'the public is not playing their part in curbing this problem. The mechova business is thriving because our people do not see it as a problem.

When we, as taxi operators are busy trying to save their lives by ensuring that they do not get into cars that are not road worthy, the public does not care. They see it as a problem for the police and us the taxi operators'.

Lisenda blames commuters for supporting lawlessness. 'Our people know very well what an official taxi looks like. Their continued usage of mechova therefore is unacceptable.

'They are the ones who are encouraging these illegal taxis to be littering our roads. It is their support for these mechovas that have resulted in the sudden flooding of our roads by these illegal taxis,' he argues.

Lisenda insists that those found  using these illegal taxis shoud be penalised as much as mechova operators.

'The government must consider introducing a legislation that will make it an offence for any member of the public to use an illegal taxi. They must do as they have done with the issue of seat belts where passengers are charged for not wearing a seat belt,' he says.

Taxi operator, Motsheraganyi Timothy, concurs with Lisenda's assertions. 'Members of the public are the ones who are supporting this illegal practice by the mechova. They have therefore one way or the other become the root cause of this problem. There is no justification whatsoever of why they use mechova,' he says.

Timothy argues that some members of the public are hell bent on using these illegal taxis. 'At times when you ask them where they are going they will tell you on your face that they want mechova because taxis are expensive,' he says sadly. For Timothy, this is not reason enough because the public transport fares are a national standard.

'These prices are determined by the government. We do not determine the prices. Besides we are running a business and it is common sense that we need profit. Members of the public must also be mindful of the fact that we are paying for our permits which is one of the regulatory instruments that governs our business operation lines. They should therefore avoid comparing us with mechova in terms of flexibility and negotiations in so far as prices are concerned,' he argues.

Timothy concurs with the view that commuters using illegal taxis should be penelised. 'They also have to be fined. The same logic that is used to charge those who buy or benefit from buying stolen goods must also be applied in this matter. This is the only way that will make the public to be part of the solution and not part of the problem in so far as the war against this illegal business is concerned,' he says.

Zibo, a taxi passenger, is also of the view that members of the public should be penalised for using mechova.

'Members of the public who use these illegal taxis are one way or the other contributing to lawlessness. They are conniving with and supporting those who deliberately go against the law and as such they ought to be punished,' he argues.

Zibo is disappointed that at times the passengers in these mechova try to defeat the ends of justice. 'Sometimes when the law have to take its course against these illegal traders, passengers protect them by saying that they are their relatives who are just transporting them somewhere,' he says.

He says that punishing mechova users will help in the fight against the problem.

'Such drastic measures will serve not only as a deterrent but also as a constant reminder to members of the public of their moral obligation of lending a helping hand in the fight against this unfortunate crisis that has engulfed the taxi industry in our country,' he reasons.