By A Correspondent- Police in Mashonaland East province have launched an operation against pirate taxis, popularly known as mushikashika,

 Under the operation code-named Wipe Out Mushikashika , Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Simon Chazovachii said 255 cars have been impounded.

He said 78 pirate taxis were impounded in Marondera, 119 in Murewa while another 48 were impounded in Chivhu district.

The operation is set to spill into COVID-19 hotspot districts such as Wedza and Goromonzi.

“The operational environment of pirate taxis fuels the spread of COVID-19. There is no social distancing, no sanitising and no monitoring of masking up among other safety measures.

“Secondly, there are issues of overloading as well as robbery cases that involve these vehicles. There are also issues of stocktheft whereby some carcasses are being found in these vehicles. They are being hired by cattle rustlers to transport stolen stock,” Chazovachii said.