Business as usual for touts while cops say they ha...

Business as usual for touts while cops say they have arrested 823

Oscar J Jeke

Harare commuters continue to face harassment from touts despite a recent police operation that netted over 823 touts across the country.

Zim Now reporters visited popular pick-up spots in the Harare CBD, including Copacabana along Cameroon, Second Street, Julius Nyerere, and the corner of Nelson Mandela and Rezende, and observed touts operating freely.

This comes amidst an ongoing campaign dubbed "No to Touts," which has resulted in over 22,112 arrests, including motorists engaging in "mushikashika" (illegal private passenger transportation). The police, posting on social media platform X, claimed the operation had yielded positive results.

"On 25/06/24, 259 touts were arrested throughout the country on operation, 'No To Mushikashika and Touts,'" the update read.

"This brings cumulative arrests to 823 since June 2024. Meanwhile, 642 arrests were made on motorists engaging in mushikashika, bringing cumulative arrests to 22 112."

It seems that the police is arresting the wrong people while the real touts continue to operate illegal ranks as usual.