adminTemba Dube Senior Reporter
BULAWAYO residents have hailed the ongoing crackdown on corrupt police officers saying it restored their confidence in the law. At least 12 traffic officers have been arrested in Bulawayo this week for allegedly soliciting for bribes at roadblocks. Commuter omnibus drivers alleged that they pay at least $2 every time they pass a roadblock, failure to which the police always find faults with their vehicles and impound them.
Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri has declared war on graft within the force and has reportedly ordered instant dismissal of corrupt police officers.
Winos Dube, chairperson of the Bulawayo United Residents Association said residents were overjoyed by the crackdown.
“It’s a masterstroke by Chihuri as it proves that no one is above the law. What these cops were doing had become very embarrassing. People who were tasked with keeping the law were openly breaking it. We were all wondering who would police the police,” said Dube.
“If this operation is sustained it will restore respect to the force. Even the number of traffic accidents is likely to go down. Most people were driving without licences thereby making the road dangerous for everyone else. They always got away with it by paying bribes.”
Albert Ncube, secretary- general of the Bulawayo Public Transporters Association, said drivers were leaving less money with crooked police officers, since the arrests started.
“The situation was so bad that at times you would pass about five road blocks in a 10km distance. You had to leave money at each of them. We are very pleased about this operation as it may restore viability of the transport business,” said Ncube.
He said transporters felt the best way to end corruption was banning spot fines.
“The argument that police have always advanced saying people leave wrong addresses does not hold water. The address is there on the permits. Parting with cash for spot fines causes the police to be exposed to unfair temptation,” said Ncube.
A motorist, Albertina Moyo, said the police were becoming greedy and kept demanding more from motorists.
“Everyone who joins the force dreams of being a traffic cop because that is where the easy money is. The police had become so greedy they disregarded the value of life in forcing bribes out of motorists. Imagine, they would throw tyre shredding spikes in front a moving kombi with passengers. This is a good move,” said Moyo.
About two weeks ago along Khami Road, 16 passengers were injured when police officers allegedly threw spikes on the path of a kombi that was trying to avoid paying to pass a roadblock.
The vehicle overturned and angry residents set upon the police with stones.
In January Com Gen Chihuri also gave police officers who operate public transport vehicles, two months to wind up and get out of the business.
Online Reporter