10 stolen cars recovered, 551 drivers attempt to f...

10 stolen cars recovered, 551 drivers attempt to flee from the police

Runodada Witness

Zim Now Reporter

The Zimbabwe Republic Police's ongoing crackdown on illegal pirate taxis has uncovered a disturbing trend: ten of the impounded vehicles have been confirmed as stolen. These stolen cars were identified among 479 unregistered and unlicensed taxis seized in Harare since the operation began on July 22, 2025. Law enforcement launched the blitz to tackle illegal transport operations and reckless driving in the capital.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID VTS) has now taken over the investigations into these stolen vehicles. "The ZRP confirms that out of the 479 pirate taxis impounded so far, ten have been established to be stolen vehicles. These cases are now under investigation by CID VTS,” a police statement read.

Authorities also expressed concern that many of the seized taxis are not even registered with the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR), highlighting a surge in unregulated vehicles operating in the city.

Beyond impounding vehicles, the police operation has also led to the arrest of 308 touts. Some of these individuals have already appeared in court and were remanded until July 31, while others opted to pay deposit fines. Repeat offenders are currently being screened and could face more severe legal action.

The operation has also identified a significant number of motorists attempting to evade police. According to the ZRP, "The ZRP has flagged 551 traffic violators who drove away or escaped upon approaching police checkpoints. Their vehicle registration numbers will be published soon."