WORLDWIDE TAXI FOCUS from Zimbabwe
TRAGEDY IN ZIMBABWE: 18 DEAD AS MINIBUS EXPLODES ON HIGHWAY
At least 18 people have been killed in Zimbabwe after a minibus taxi “exploded into fire” travelling on a major high- way. The devastating incident occurred on a busy route near the South African border. The final death toll figure currently stands at “approximately 18.” Investigators found the scene in chaos, with one body discovered thrown nearly 100 meters away from the vehicle. Early reports suggest the vehicle may have been carrying gas cylinders or other explosives among the passengers’ luggage. This latest disaster follows a string of deadly crashes in neighbouring South Africa, including a recent accident in January that killed 14 schoolchildren.
from Australia
WEST AUSTRALIA TAXI INDUSTRY AT BRINK DUE TO RISING FUEL COSTS
Taxi drivers in regional Western Australia are calling for urgent help as soaring fuel prices and strict govern- ment rules leave them unable to cover their costs. Unlike other businesses, taxi operators cannot raise their fares to handle the fuel crisis because the state government sets fixed rates that are only reviewed once a year. South West taxi operator Craig Smith-Gander said it is impossible to pass rising costs on to customers. “All of my suppliers, my mechanics, all of those sorts of people here in the south, have increased their prices in the last 12 months,” he said, noting that fuel costs for drivers have nearly doubled in just over a month. He warned that drivers cannot wait for an annual review,
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stating: “that’s the single biggest cost they have, and there’s nothing you can do about increasing your prices.” The struggle is creating a crisis for vulnerable residents. In country areas where public transport and apps do not exist, many rely entirely on taxis. Stu Schonell, chief executive of Advocacy WA, said the situation “is only going to get worse, with taxi drivers talking about exiting the industry because of the cost of fuel and the fact that they’re losing money.” The Transport Workers’ Union is now urging the government to step in with subsidies to prevent the industry from collapsing. State secretary Tim Dawson warned that without intervention, the impact could spread to the wider economy. “What’s the end result if they don’t?” he asked. “We won’t have a taxi industry, or we might not have trucks delivering food.” Assistant Transport Minister Jessica Stojkovski acknowledged the pressure on drivers, however, the government has yet to announce any immediate changes to fare structures or subsidies.
from India
MIRACLE ESCAPE AS TAXI PLUNGES 25 FEET INTO MUMBAI WELL
A taxi journey took a terrifying turn in Nalasopara East last month when a vehicle smashed through a boundary wall and dropped 25 feet to the bottom of a public well. Despite the dramatic fall into the relatively dry pit, the driver and his friend survived. Local fire brigade crews arrived quickly at the scene, using ladders and belts to pull both men to safety in a rescue operation that lasted around 35 minutes. Fire brigade officials remarked that the pair were “lucky
to have escaped with only minor
injuries” given the significant depth of the plunge. While the exact cause of the crash is being looked into, a local resident claimed that the occupants appeared to be drunk and further alleged that one of the men was “learning to drive but lost control of the vehicle,” leading to the taxi veering off the main road and through the wall.
MAY 2026 PHTM
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