City of Masvingo (Taxi-Cab) By-laws, 2025

These by-laws licence taxi-cabs — public service vehicles seating no more than four passengers — in the City of Masvingo.

No one may operate a taxi without a council operator's permit. Taxis may not stop to pick up or set down passengers other than at designated places, nor within seven metres of an intersection or corner, and may only use routes the council has designated. A driver may not prevent a passenger from engaging another taxi of their choice.

The permit runs to 31 December of the year it is granted. The council must cancel it if the holder is convicted of any traffic offence under the city's traffic by-laws, and the cancelled permit must be returned within seven working days.

At a rank, drivers must take their place in order of arrival and stop behind the last taxi. A council official may order a dirty or badly maintained taxi off the road until the defects are fixed, and drivers must be cleanly and decently dressed and behave civilly. The permit must be displayed conspicuously and produced on demand, and the driver must wear the council-issued badge, which remains council property and must be surrendered with the permit within 14 days of stopping work or of suspension or cancellation.

Fees are US$10 to apply and US$120 a year for the permit; the driver's badge and replacements are free. Penalties are US$20 for operating without a permit, stopping at an undesignated place, using an undesignated route, blocking a passenger's choice of taxi, operating a filthy taxi and failing to produce the licence on request, and US$10 for failing to display the permit. A contravention may also lead to impoundment of the vehicle or cancellation of the permit.