Luanshya Police Officer Command Hudson Namachila has advised pirate taxi drivers to operate within the law of face the consequences.
Reacting to request by Pirate taxi operators in the district to his office to convince government to allow them operate their vehicles in various colours, Mr Namachila urged them to follow the government’s rule
Mr. Namachila said the aggrieved pirates should not appeal to him on the matter saying government was the right institution to appeal to. He said his duty was only to ensure there was law and order in the district.
He warned pirate taxi drivers to abide by the law, adding those who will not abide will have themselves to blame.
However, a check by ZANIS on the streets revealed the registered taxis have been out-numbered by the pirates.
Meanwhile some pirate taxi drivers talked to said they will not have their cars painted blue because passengers today shun blue painted vehicles.
One driver told ZANIS on conditions of anonymity that he will never have his car painted in the official blue because he will lose customers.
He said much as he desires to abide by the law, he will not, as long as such law is not beneficial to him.
However, one of the registered taxi drivers, Godwin Lungu, observed it has become difficult for people from other countries to identify which cars are legal for transport and which ones are not due to piracy.
He said if all taxis were legal, passengers would have no option but to go for any taxi.
He has called on the police to intensify patrols to ensure all pirate taxis are wiped out of the streets.
ZANIS/MM/Ends/MM
