Act on defiant ‘Mushika shikas’ in the CBD, Government urged

Donald Mandizvidza

The Zimbabwe Government, through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, has been urged to effectively deal with private cars, commonly referred to as mushika shika, that are openly plying Harare’s Central Business District.

The government banned kombis when Covid-19 started to protect citizens, but this has seen a rise in private vehicles that are now operating in numbers, disregarding traffic rules.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Deputy Minister, Mike Madiro said these vehicles operating in the city are breaking the law according to Government policy, and blamed the police for failing to reign in the rampant mushika shikas.

“Those mushika shika operators are violating the law and that is why we are asking the Ministry of Home Affairs to enforce such policies to avoid mushika shikas from operating”, said Madiro.

Norton MP, Temba Mliswa said Government banned kombis as public transport yet the Zupco buses are not sufficient to provide transport, leaving the people without a choice but to use mushika shikas. He urged Government to consider bringing back kombis to augment Zupco buses but observing Covid-19 regulations.

The police have been challenged to raise public awareness on authorised transport. Kombis and mushika shikas have been largely blamed for the congestion in the CBD and accidents on the country’s roads.