Courts dealing with more traffic offences

been heard at the Bulawayo magistrates’ courts this month alone, while 795 were heard last year.
However, indications are that several such offences do not go to court, as they are resolved at police stations or roadblocks where traffic laws offenders reportedly pay bribes to the police so that they are allowed to pass through and avoid being taken to court.
The development comes at a time when the war between traffic police and transport crews, especially those in the public sector, intensifies.
Those arrested and appeared in court were charged with different offences such as negligent driving, driving without licences, proceeding through a red robot, touting and loading at undesignated sites, no certificates of fitness, culpable homicide, no medical test, retest, to use of cellphone while driving.
Some of the cases have been completed while others are still pending in court waiting finalisation.
The sentences include imprisonment ranging from a few days to about six months and fines of between $20 and $300 depending on the gravity of each case.
Some, especially those charged with culpable homicide, have been slapped with an effective jail sentence of two years while others have had their licences cancelled or banned from driving for a stipulated period of time.
Some have been cautioned and discharged while others serve community service.
Public transport operators in Bulawayo recently raised concern over harassment of their drivers and crews by traffic police who demand exorbitant spot bribes to allow them to pass through roadblocks, a situation that was confirmed by police in Bulawayo.
Kombi crews who are drivers and touts, complained about alleged harassment, saying police were milking them of the little money they were realising while not doing anything to take illegal transport operators off the road.
They now want the Government to intervene and put an end to corruption which they said was prevalent on the roads.