Police in fresh campaign against violent touts

Talent Gore

POLICE have launched a countrywide operation at bus terminuses to prevent touts from harassing travellers during the Christmas holidays.

Touts at the Fourth Street bus rank and Harare Showgrounds have been wreaking havoc, assaulting and harassing travellers, resulting in a number of them losing valuables.

National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said the operation had already begun.

“We are targeting mostly bus terminuses and other areas where people mostly get mugged.

“The operation is to ensure that citizens are safe, especially this Christmas season,” Ass Comm Nyathi said.

“We also urge the public to do its part by looking for safe transport when boarding long distance buses.

“We urge the public against boarding unregistered vehicles as they risk being robbed, raped or even murdered.

“The public should also lead by example and ensure their safety before boarding buses.

“The police will also do their part by ensuring safety for all citizens.”

Ass Comm also warned motorists to be wary of robbers as people trying to catch a ride.

“A 34-year-old man lost a Honda Fit vehicle registration number AFT 2657, a DStv decoder, 13 cell phones, seven power banks and personal documents to two unknown male suspects,” he said.

“He had offered them a lift at corner Chinhoyi Street and Robert Mugabe Road, Harare, on the pretext that they were going to Marimba.

“Along the way, at Rugare traffic lights, the suspects attacked the complainant and stole his valuables and the vehicle.

“They then made a U-turn and later dumped the complainant in Msasa.”

Ass Comm Nyathi said a 27-year-old man offered a lift to two unknown male suspects, who purported to be going to Chinhoyi, at Westgate in Harare.

At the 113 km peg along the Harare-Chirundu Road, they attacked the complainant and stole US$3 600 and his Honda Fit vehicle registration AFY 4575. 

A policeman at the Fourth Street rank said the challenge with the behaviour of the touts is that they were being shielded by bus operators plying the bus routes.