TAXI wars between registered commuter omnibuses and pirate taxis took a new twist in Bulawayo yesterday with rival groups poking bees, unleashing them on commuters waiting for unregistered taxis.
BY BENSON DUBE Business came to a standstill within the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) premises when irritated bees attacked several motorists, commuters and pedestrians.
Commuter omnibus operators had reportedly poked bees at their beehive next to where pirate taxis pick up commuters.
The fire brigade was called to the scene to contain the situation.
One of the affected commuters, Simeleni Zhou accused registered taxi operators of employing unfair tactics to scare off rivals. “These operators must be banned from operating at UBH as they are disturbing bees so that we are attacked and forced into their kombis,” Zhou, who had a swollen face, said.
A motorist, Bernard Matanga said he was driving along St Lukes Road towards UBH with his vehicle windows open when he was attacked by the bees.
Police regularly target pirate taxis on the city’s roads but operators say they cannot abandon the business because they have no other means of making an income.
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The UBH-City route has one of the highest number of pirate taxis.
