From Thupeyo Muleya in BEITBRIDGE
AT the turn of the new millennium, anyone arriving here would be welcomed by a chain of Datsun 120Y-model cars at any hiking spot which had made a name for themselves as reliable taxis.
The Datsun makes, most of them 1974 models, are known for their durability.
These, common among them 1200, 120Y and 140Y models, were nimble-footed little creatures that could pass any road and thoroughfare.
But for most of the times, drivers of these pirate taxis were also playing cat-and-mouse with either the Vehicle Inspection Department or the police and the local authority over their roadworthiness.
But times are changing.
Datsun 120Y taxi operators are beginning to sing the blues following the influx of second-hand vehicles from Asian countries such as Japan and Singapore that have been turned into taxis.
In separate interviews, Datsun taxi operators said they were now losing business to the new family of imported cars among them Mazda Familias, Nissan March, Toyota Vitz, Toyota Mark II and Toyota Corollas.
"Before the influx of Ex-Japan vehicles we were having lucrative business but now things are getting bad," decried Tongai Zhou of Duli-badzimu suburb.
"People are now interested in using the new vehicles to shuttle them around the town. For those with Datsun cars we only get business from our traditional clients.
"I can foresee the Datsun cars disappearing in the next three years as they are being outclassed by these newer vehicles.
"I bought two houses in Muche-ke suburb of Masvingo through the proceeds I got from this taxi business. I was operating five Datsun 120Y taxis," he said.
A taxi costs R20 for a single trip around the border town and has been fixed for the past four years.
Beitbridge Town Clerk Dr Sipho Singo said in an interview that they have started registering taxis and commuter omnibuses since the border post was granted town status in April 2006.
"We started regularising the operations of taxis and commuter omnibuses soon after getting the town status.
"We want to do away with the issue of playing running battles with pirate taxi operators.
"Generally, there is a self-transformation within the residents whereby they are now interested in using these new vehicles as taxis rather than the traditional Datsun cars.
"Literally we did not issue any statement that we are phasing out the Datsun, but they are doing so themselves.
"The registration process starts with the vehicles getting a certificate of fitness from the Vehicle Inspection Department of which most of the Datsun vehicles have outlived their lifespan and cannot acquire these certificates.
"However, we are going to deal ruthlessly with those who operate pirate taxis as they will be violating our council by-laws and several traffic regulations," he said.
Dr Singo said they were also working on some routes for the commuter omnibuses and the radius to be covered by the taxis.
"You will realise that as a new town we are putting measures that befit our status and we are grateful that most residents and other stakeholders are complementing our efforts," he said.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police Officer In-Charge of National Traffic in Beitbridge, Inspector Tendai Nyambuya said they were working hand in glove with the local authority and the Vehicle Inspection Department in ensuring that road traffic regulations were being enforced.
"Through our efforts as multi stakeholders we have managed to restore some sanity in the town. As the police we will continue raiding those who do not respect the laws of the land," he said.
Meanwhile, used cars such as those threatening the livelihoods of Datsun taxi operators have also become a niggling national issue.
The used car industry has become the fastest growing business in the country with Harare’s central business district and its environs now dotted with second hand vehicles.
As a result, Government is banning the importation of second hand vehicles above five years in a move aimed at reducing carnage on the country’s roads.
The regulations will take effect on March 1, 2011.
Left hand-drive cars and those older than five years will be affected by the new order.
publisher, The Herald 19 October 2010
www.herald.co.zw
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