Ronald Mpofu [email protected]
PLUMTREE Town Council has intensified security at Dingumuzi Rank following the relocation of commuter omnibuses from ePhaneni in the central business district, as authorities step up enforcement to restore order at the new site.
The relocation, announced last Wednesday under Operation Tjenesa, has sparked mixed reactions among residents, vendors and transport operators, with council officers maintaining a presence at the rank to enforce municipal regulations.
Tensions reportedly flared at Dingumuzi Township shopping centre yesterday evening when two women were arrested at Ndazi-Ndazi Butchery for allegedly violating council regulations.
The women were accused of sending a juvenile to record a video while council police were carrying out an operation targeting illegal vendors.
However, sources said members of the public had not been warned that recording videos or taking photographs during the enforcement operation was prohibited.
“The council police said their target was to arrest those operating without licences within the Dingumuzi rank radius and no one was allowed to record or shoot photos during their operation,” said a witness who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The two women and the juvenile were reportedly taken by Plumtree Town Council police to Plumtree Police Station for further handling.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Plumtree Town Council officials were unsuccessful by the time of publication, while police could not immediately confirm the arrests.
The relocation of the rank is intended to decongest Plumtree’s central business district and improve traffic flow. However, the move continues to generate debate among residents and transport operators over its impact on businesses and commuters.
Meanwhile, council police officers remain deployed at Dingumuzi Rank, conducting licence checks and monitoring commuter omnibuses operating on routes including Harare, Bulawayo, Brunapeg, Madlambudzi, Ndolwane and Linda.
