Mutare – The Stage Carriage Unified Transport Association (SCUTA) has denied reports that the group employs violent touts who are known as ‘Mahwindi’ saying such statements are malicious.
SCUTA said it has noted with concern the malicious information circulating on social media that falsely links our members and certain transport operators to the employment and deployment of touts (Mahwindi) previously involved in violent activities at bus ranks.
”Our members, including Trip Trans and Gold Class, do not employ the individuals named in the circulating statements. It is SCUTA policy that members do not engage persons with a known history of violent conduct and extortion at ranks,” SCUTA said.
The bus operators,Trip Trans Chief Executive Mr. Shadreck Tiripano and Gold Class founder Dr. Isau Mupfumi are both ZANU-PF Central Committee members.
”They operate strictly within the law and in full compliance with directives from the relevant authorities. All SCUTA members abide by the rules governing public transport and rank operations,” SCUTA said.
”Hon. Dr. Isau Mupfumi and Trip Trans were at the forefront of a collective agreement among operators that mahwindi involved in past acts of violence will not be employed at ranks. SCUTA and its members reject violence in all forms and remain committed to maintaining order, discipline, and professionalism at all ranks.”
”The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) continues to conduct patrols at ranks to restore order and ensure that touts are arrested. The claim that touts are being reintroduced is misleading, given the ongoing police presence and enforcement in the ranks,” the statement said.
SCUTA said they have reported a case to the police under RRB 6791593 for the law enforcement agents to arrest people spreading the malicious information.
”The information being spread is false and intended to sow division, undermine efforts to restore sanity in the transport sector, and tarnish the image of operators. SCUTA commends the ZRP for its work in bringing order and calls on the police to investigate and arrest those responsible for spreading this falsehood,” the organization said.
”SCUTA will pursue all lawful means to identify and bring to book the author and distributor of this defamatory statement.”