adminSifundiso Ndlovu Chronicle reporter
BULAWAYO police yesterday impounded dozens of kombis and arrested the drivers for flouting a variety of traffic regulations.
At least 40 impounded kombis were taken to Drill Hall Police Station where the drivers said they were made to pay fines ranging from between $30 to $60 before their vehicles could be released.
A Chronicle news crew observed scores of drivers milling inside the police camp clutching documents for their vehicles.
The drivers said they had been arrested for failure to have retests, medical examinations, route permits and licensing. Some said while they understood that the police were doing their work, they felt they were being unfairly targeted.
“They are targeting operators at Egodini terminus only while those that use the illegal Sixth Avenue pick up point and Calbro are left out,” said a driver who identified himself as Bristos Ncube.
Some drivers claimed the police were taking long to release them even after they had produced all the relevant papers.
Majahana Sibanda, who plies the Luveve route, said his vehicle was impounded after police said his metal driver’s licence did not show that he was allowed to drive a commuter omnibus.
He complained that police had made him wait for hours to be released even after he showed them all the required papers.
“I came here and produced all the papers but they are now saying I should wait for their seniors to release me. I have been here from 11AM now it’s 5PM,” said Sibanda.
He said he was worried that he had lost the day’s earnings as he spent his time at the police camp.
“This is my only source of income and how am I expected to live if I spend the whole day seated here,” he said.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Madlenkosi Moyo declined to comment on the issue and referred all questions to the traffic section whose officers were not available for comment.
Online Reporter