Jacob Mafume: Harare Tricycles Nigeria Claim Debunked

• Social media posts falsely claimed Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume warned Harare could 'end up like Nigeria' if passenger tricycles were allowed.
• Mayor Mafume did state that passenger tricycles would not be permitted in Harare but made no mention of Nigeria in his official remarks.
• The Mayor's statement was part of a broader discussion on Harare's urban mobility plan and efforts to formalize the e-hailing sector.
• E-hailing and delivery operators received a five-month moratorium while awaiting new regulatory arrangements from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.
• The city's stance on passenger tricycles is distinct from its approach to other e-hailing services for passengers and food delivery.

While Mayor Mafume did unequivocally state that passenger tricycles would not be allowed in Harare, his remarks, captured during a City of Harare ordinary council meeting on September 9, 2026, contained no mention of Nigeria or its transport system.

Recent social media posts have widely circulated a claim alleging that Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume issued a stark warning, suggesting the Zimbabwean capital risked becoming like Nigeria if passenger tricycles, commonly known as 'keke' in Nigeria, were permitted to operate within the city. These posts, including one dated September 10, 2026, explicitly stated that Mafume had declared, 'We will not allow keke/tricycles in Harare,' followed by the assertion that their introduction could lead Harare to 'end up like parts of Nigeria.' Another post featured a video of the Mayor, with text overlays and captions reiterating this specific comparison.

However, an investigation by Africa Check into the veracity of this Jacob Mafume Harare tricycles Nigeria claim has revealed that the Mayor did not make any such reference to Nigeria. While Mayor Mafume did unequivocally state that passenger tricycles would not be allowed in Harare, his remarks, captured during a City of Harare ordinary council meeting on September 9, 2026, contained no mention of Nigeria or its transport system. The fact-checking organization found no credible news reports quoting Mafume making the comparison, indicating that the social media posts added the claim about Nigeria without factual basis.

The Mayor's actual statements regarding Harare passenger tricycles and the broader urban transport landscape provide crucial context. In July, prior to the September council meeting, Mayor Mafume had expressed concerns about the increasing volume of vehicles on Harare's roads, noting that the existing infrastructure could no longer adequately cope. At that time, he advocated for an increased reliance on public transport solutions to alleviate congestion.

As part of Harare's urban mobility plan, Mafume also announced a forthcoming 200-bus service, specifically designed to ease pressure on the city's strained road network. These initiatives align with a wider urban regeneration and decongestion operation launched by Harare, aimed at revitalizing public spaces and enhancing overall mobility within the capital. The decision to ban passenger tricycles, therefore, appears to be an integral part of this comprehensive strategy to manage urban transport challenges.

The Mayor's remarks about the ban on passenger tricycles were made amidst broader efforts to formalize and regulate Zimbabwe's burgeoning e-hailing sector. During the September 9, 2026, council meeting, Mayor Mafume confirmed that the city had engaged with various e-hailing and delivery operators. These operators were granted a five-month moratorium, allowing them to continue their services while the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development develops new regulatory arrangements in consultation with stakeholders.

Specifically addressing the scope of e-hailing, Mayor Mafume clarified the city's position, stating, 'So we have dealt with it, e-hailing is for passengers and we have e-hailing for food delivery ... But what we will not allow is those tricycles that are used by passengers. Those tricycles we will not allow ...' This clear distinction underscores the city's intent to regulate different forms of transport services separately, with a definitive stance against passenger tricycles, even as it works to integrate other e-hailing services into a formal framework.

The proliferation of the inaccurate Jacob Mafume Harare tricycles Nigeria claim highlights the critical importance of verifying information, particularly for legal professionals and businesses operating within the transport sector. Misinformation can lead to incorrect strategic decisions and compliance issues, especially in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment like Zimbabwe's e-hailing sector. The Africa Check Mafume statement serves as a reminder that official announcements, such as the Jacob Mafume keke ban, should be sourced directly from credible channels.

For lawyers advising transport or e-hailing clients in Harare, understanding the precise details of the city's policy, including the confirmed prohibition of passenger tricycles and the ongoing Zimbabwe e-hailing regulation efforts, is paramount. Relying on verified information, rather than unconfirmed social media narratives, is essential for navigating the complexities of Harare's urban mobility plan and ensuring adherence to forthcoming presidential directives on regulatory frameworks.

Lawyers advising transport or e-hailing clients in Harare must note the confirmed ban on passenger tricycles and closely monitor the President's office for forthcoming regulatory frameworks impacting other e-hailing and delivery services, ensuring compliance based on accurate information rather than social media misinformation.

Source: Original reporting via Africa Check