Government Moves to Remove Mishikashika

Harare’s Master Plan 2025–2045 bans mishikashika and phases out kombis by 2028, sparking debate over transport modernisation, safety, and commuter livelihoods (image source)

Harare’s newly adopted Master Plan 2025–2045 includes a controversial policy to outlaw pirate taxis, commonly known as mishikashika, with immediate effect and to phase out commuter omnibuses (kombis) over the next three years — a move city planners say is necessary to reduce road fatalities, ease congestion and modernise the capital’s transport network. Transport Minister Felix Tapiwa Mhona has publicly framed the measure as part of a broader strategy to build a “resilient and modern transport network,” saying the sector needs a holistic approach that combines regulation, infrastructure investment and public-private partnerships to be sustainable.

City officials and the master plan cite repeated accidents, unregulated routes and vehicle safety concerns as drivers for the ban, and identify Policy 109 and Policy 110 as the instruments that will guide enforcement and the transition to regulated services. The plan sets out spatial and regulatory changes intended to integrate public transport with urban redevelopment and road-safety programmes.

Operators and commuter groups have reacted sharply. Kombi associations warn that an abrupt ban will displace thousands of drivers and conductors who depend on daily fares, and call for a phased, consultative approach that includes compensation, retraining and formalisation pathways for informal operators. Street-level operators say many commuters rely on kombis and mishikashika for affordable, flexible travel where formal bus services are sparse. The policy includes an immediate ban on pirate taxis and a phased-out kombi system by 2028, with city planners emphasising that enforcement will be paired with route rationalisation and investment in regulated minibus services.

Transport analysts say the success of the policy will hinge on implementation details such as clear timelines, replacement services, and enforcement that targets unsafe operators rather than sweeping criminalisation of informal livelihoods. Without alternatives, analysts warn, commuters could face higher fares and longer journeys, while displaced drivers may turn to other informal or unsafe work. “A holistic approach is essential if we are to effectively address the challenges facing our sector,” said Transport Minister Felix Tapiwa Mhona.

Practical steps recommended by urban planners include a phased licensing programme for existing operators, investment in regulated feeder services, and targeted road-safety enforcement that prioritises vehicle inspections and driver training over blanket bans. The master plan also points to public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a mechanism to finance fleet renewal and depot infrastructure. City council has signalled it will begin stakeholder consultations and regulatory drafting immediately, but union leaders and kombi owners say they have not yet been given meaningful input. The coming weeks will test whether Harare can reconcile safety and modernisation goals with the economic realities of informal transport workers and the mobility needs of low-income commuters.