Story by Fungai Jachi
The fight to rid the Harare Central Business District of touts is far from over as they remain defiant, operating at various pick-up points, despite police launching Operation “No to Touts” last week.
The commuting public says police should enforce the law to bring sanity in the CBD.
“We want to see change on the streets because touts are causing havoc,” said a commuter.
“Sometimes they end up forcing you to get into a bus you don’t want because they will be violent,” another said.
“If pirate taxis are put to an end then the touting problem will go away but council and police arrest them briefly and bring them back on the streets,” added another commuter.
More than 200 touts have been arrested in Harare since the launch of the operation last week, with 234 having been arraigned before the courts, convicted and fined US$30 each.
The convicted touts were also handed a three-month wholly suspended sentence.
They were charged with contravening Section 40 of the Road Motor Transportation Act.
