Zim Pirate Taxi Drivers Wreak Havoc

By Dan Mosekaphofu
Correspondent | Monday August 20, 2007 00:00

 These are Batswana taxi operators who are now crying foul because the Zimbabweans have virtually taken over the area and the business, which is by law, reserved for locals.
For them, the sight of our neighbours with their luggage only brings anger and frustration. This is a market segment that has unfortunately been declared out of bounds for them by the influx of Zimbabwean mechova drivers and operators in the town. The local taxi operators have not only been out-competed but have been turned into mere spectators as these mechova wrestle business right under their noses.

A visit to Jumbo wholesalers, which is always flooded with Zimbabwean shoppers, confirms the local taxi operators' lamentations.

The parking area in front of the wholesalers has been literally turned into a small 'mechova' rank. On arrival at this place one is greeted by the blaring music from car radios - mostly of Zimbabwean origin, which in local circles is commonly referred to as 'mozimbabwe'. The mechova drivers are busy chatting while others are dancing to these great tunes from ('beck' home).

The 'official languages' here are English, Shona and Ndebele. As customers emerge from the shop, they are received with open arms and negotiations about transportation fares ensue. Fortunately for mechova drivers, this is one shop that is heavily patronised by the Zimbabweans. This therefore speeds up matters as negotiations are usually done in their (Zimbabwean) mother tongues.

After a few minutes of some hard bargaining, the deal is finally sealed and mechova can be seen speeding off in different directions to deliver their customers or passengers. One outstanding feature of most of these mechova is their questionable state of roadworthiness. Some need a giant push for them to start. But the pushing is done quickly by other 'comrades' - something that denotes the communal spirit that reigns supreme at this 'rank'.

According to one of the local taxi operators, 54-year-old Chebukani Lisenda of Maitengwe: 'Our Zimbabwean brothers have literally taken over this business. We are just spectators, hopelessly and helplessly watching as money that could have been going into our pockets is being taken away.'

He goes on to reveal that they have complained to the police about this situation but there is no improvement. 'We have raised this issue with the police but nothing positive is coming out of it,' he said.

Another taxi operator Zibani Phindani reveals that 'the Zimbabweans have annexed the Jumbo area and established their illegal taxi rank. They even go to the extent of threatening to beat us up if we try to get passengers from that side.'

Phindani also reveals that their taxi association plans to approach the owners of the big shopping complexes for permission to operate in front of their premises. 'Our association plans to negotiate with the owners of these big shops as they (owners) also have overall jurisdiction over parking areas of such premises,' he said.

Francistown Traffic Police Inspector Selogilwe Sefawe says that they are currently tackling the problem of illegal taxis at the bus and taxi rank.  'We are doing everything possible to eradicate this problem particularly at the bus and taxi rank. We are determined to clear the streets of all these illegal taxis,' he declared.