Atmosphere at city ranks tense

known as the Mandimbandimba, were not moved by the story in yesterday’s issue of The Herald exposing their operations.
Harare kombi operators said they were worried by Government’s failure to protect them from the “thugs” who were forcing them to pay protection fees.
The gangs claim to be Zanu-PF supporters but the party has distanced itself from their activities.
But the kombi crews continued to pay the protection fees, which at some ranks is US$2 per trip per kombi and a further US$2 if the kombi “jumps the queue”.
Rank marshals also remained defiant arguing they could not abandon the only lucrative trade they know.
By late yesterday there were no cases of violence perpetrated against people who had spoken to The Herald.
However, reports said new entrants to a rank were forced to pay more depending on the mood of the Mandimbandimba.
The term “mandimbandimba” refers to the “invincibility” of these people.
A majority of these people quickly put on Zanu-PF regalia when they sense danger.
These people, who have become rich overnight, have runners who collect the cash on their behalf. They operate “mafia-style” and collect over US$1 000 each daily.
Rank marshals also play a role in the illicit deals.
President of the Urban Commuters Association Mr Simbareshe Ngarande yesterday said commuter operators in Harare were losing US$ 20 000 a day.
“The situation was tense yesterday and these guys were just coming to take the money. We are now happy that these people are not Zanu-PF. But the challenge is we do not know whether we should continue paying because they are violent,” he said.
Sources at the Fourth Street bus rank said one of the thugs identified as Murehwa drove into the rank and collected his money.
“He never came out of his car. He just shouted for his money and drove off,” said one vendor.
Some of the drivers now think the practice is normal because when they joined the industry they found it in existence.
“They tell us they have been sent from above to collect the money. I have grown accustomed to the practice,” said one driver at the Charge Office bus rank.
But in separate interviews other operators and their drivers confirmed they were fed up with the situation. Their frustration came as new evidence showed that bus operators plying Harare-Bulawayo routes were being forced to pay up to US$100 per trip per bus at Mbare Musika.
This means an operator with 10 buses pays up to US$1 000 to the people a day while those that ply the Harare-Bindura road pay up to US$15 per trip per bus.
Zanu-PF Harare provincial secretary for information and publicity, Cde Claudious Mutero, on Tuesday distanced the party from the gang’s activities.
“These are people trying to soil the name of the party. They are just using the name of our party. We do not get money as a party from the ranks.”
Cde Mutero said it was wrong for anyone to suggest that Zanu-PF survived on rank collections.
Harare has over 10 ranks that are reportedly under the control of different leaders who at times use their “runners” to threaten defiant kombi crews.
A reader said the real issue was not of people masquerading as Zanu-PF representatives but that touts have been a menace for years and Harare Council has literally failed to deal with them.
“To think the problem has increased because the thugs claim to be Zanu-PF is just unwarranted. Tsotsi itsotsi chete whether it belongs to the MDCT, Zanu-PF or Zanu Ndonga,” said the reader.