Govt Investigates Top Bikita Official for Allegedly Using Car as Mshikashika
Bikita District Development Coordinator (DDC), Bernard Hadzirabwi, has landed in hot water after he was allegedly caught using a government-issued vehicle to run an illegal pirate taxi service.
The vehicle in question, a white Isuzu single cab with government plates (MLG 164), was reportedly used to ferry paying passengers between Masvingo and Nyika Growth Point on March 31, 2025.
Govt Investigates Top Bikita Official for Allegedly Using Car as Mshikashika
Ministry of Local Government and Public Works spokesperson Gabriel Masvora confirmed that internal investigations have been launched.
Masvora said there are strict rules around the use of government vehicles. He explained that these cars are meant strictly for official duties, and only approved passengers are allowed. Each journey must be recorded in a logbook, and anything outside that is a breach of public service policy.
“We have instituted our own internal investigations to first establish the facts around the matter. The use of Government vehicles is guided by a Public Service Commission policy, which stipulates that the vehicles must be used for Government business, and only authorised people are allowed to be ferried in the said vehicles. The Ministry monitors the movement of our vehicles through the use of log books where drivers have to log in and out when embarking on any journey, and we expect the vehicle to be used exactly for that journey and purpose,” said Masvora. Cultural heritage tours.
According to sources, including a reporter from The Masvingo Mirror, Hadzirabwi was seen in Masvingo around 7:30 AM that day, where he allegedly picked up eight passengers—one in the front seat and seven at the back. The passengers reportedly paid between US$1 and US$3 each for the ride to Nyika Growth Point.
One passenger, believed to be a Bikita Minerals employee, allegedly paid US$6 to be dropped off at the mine.
The Mirror journalist, who was on her way to a workshop at Nyika, says she also paid US$3 and was the last to be dropped off.
DDC Denies the Allegations
When contacted for comment, Hadzirabwi initially challenged the reporter to prove he was pirating.
“Did you see me using a Government vehicle to pirate. Do you have evidence to that effect? I am disputing that,” said Hadzirabwi.
However, when the reporter revealed she had been one of the paying passengers in his vehicle, Hadzirabwi abruptly shut down the conversation and said:
“I don’t give comments to The Mirror.”
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