By Staff Correspondent
HARARE – The Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has called for an immediate legislative overhaul of the country’s public transport sector, warning that the unchecked expansion of the informal transport system now poses a direct threat to national security.
PAZ President Tafadzwa Goliati issued the warning amid growing public concern over the chaotic state of commuter transit networks, particularly the rise of unregistered operators, popularly known as mshika-shika.
According to Goliati, the vulnerabilities of the current transit framework extend far beyond administrative bottlenecks, directly impacting the safety of millions of citizens who rely on public transportation daily.
”The informal transport system is a threat to national security because the majority of our people rely on public transport,” Goliati stated. “There must be a policy to ensure that passengers and drivers are protected.”
The association noted that the dominance of unregulated commuter omnibuses (combis) and private vehicles has created a regulatory vacuum. This lack of oversight has linked the informal transport network to rising road traffic accidents, criminal syndicates, passenger harassment, and volatile, arbitrary fare pricing. Because these operations lack centralized tracking and driver vetting, accountability remains virtually non-existent.
PAZ is urging the government to move swiftly from temporary traffic enforcement measures to a comprehensive, long-term national policy. The proposed framework aims to formalize the sector by enforcing mandatory driver background checks, integrating digital vehicle tracking systems, and establishing strict safety compliance standards.
Goliati emphasized that protecting commuters requires an equal commitment to safeguarding drivers, who frequently face exploitation by vehicle owners and intimidation by illegal touts.
With public transport serving as the primary economic conveyor belt for the nation’s workforce, PAZ maintains that restoring law and order to the roads is no longer just a municipal issue, but a critical matter of national stability.