THE COVID-19 induced national lockdown which has forced kombi operators out of business have seen a dangerous sport of ‘kombi burnouts’ gaining popularity in the high density suburb of Kuwadzana, Zim Morning Post can report.
Idle kombi drivers are now into car racing and burn outs with a big cash prize at stake to compensate for the loss of income as their kombis cannot qualify for the franchised Zupco fleet.
Loosely put, burnouts are a practice of racing and in some instances keeping a vehicle stationary and spinning its wheels, causing the tyres to heat up and smoke due to friction.
The race – witnessed by this journalist on Wednesday- involved Kombis popularly referred to as “yellow commuters” by residents in this sprawling Harare high density suburb.
This publication interviewed one of the Kombi drivers on if they realised the dangers involved in such car races, considering that Kuwadzana suburb was densely populated.
“Hapana yokutamba mudhara (There is nothing I can do), I have a family to fend,” said the driver who did not want his name revealed for fear of victimisation.
The high-speed race witnessed by Zim Morning Post started at a bus stop in Kuwadzana 7, with the commuters speeding in opposite directions towards Kuwadzana 4 Shopping Centre and back again to Kuwadzana 7 where the “winner” is then declared.
But why are these drivers taking such risks, even where possibilities of accidents in such instances are high and catastrophic?
“The Kombis are rotting and our livelihoods disturbed,” said the “yellow commuters” driver who spoke to Zim Morning Post.
“In these races which you have witnessed today, the “winner” walks away US$20 richer in just less than 20 minutes,” he added.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa banned Kombis from plying residential suburbs to cities or towns roads since about three months ago in compliance with the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.
Most COVID-19 restrictions in the country have, however, since been lifted.
The practice leaves residents at the risk of freak accidents and officials from Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe said this is illegal.