|
 The transport sector, a haven for most emerging and small black entrepreneurs in the country, has now become a cash cow for corrupt police officers. This has impacted heavily on commuters who are forced to pay higher fares so as to cushion the transport operators.
Transport operators who spoke to The Standard last week said police corruption has virtually crippled the sector and in extreme cases forcing some operators to fold.
“We have to charge higher fares so that we distribute the costs of police corruption between ourselves and the commuting public,” said one operators adding that during holidays such as the upcoming Christmas and New Year the fares would be raised considerably as they expected the police to demand more and more bribes.
They said however perfect a vehicle might be, the police would always find a fault and demand a bribe, failure of which they would issue several tickets for minor offences such as a cracked mirror or a dirty bus.
Moses Takavarasha, whose buses used to ply the Harare-Mutare route, said at least 25% of his daily earnings were going towards bribing police officers.
On some days, Takavarasha said, there would be at least 10 police roadblocks between the two cities and officers would be demanding sums ranging between $5 and $10 at each point.
“The police have become silent shareholders in our businesses,” said Takavarasha. “I can say they own 25% of my business. They are partners who did not contribute a single cent to capital.”
He said he often loses up to $100 to corrupt police officers on a single trip.
Operators who ply the major highways such as Harare-Bulawayo, Harare-Mutare or Masvingo-Bulawayo suffer the same fate. Takavarasha has since changed his route permit to ply Harare-Murambinda.
The reason: “Police in the rural areas demand less money than the highway patrol officers.”
A senior official of the Zimbabwe Rural Transport Operators (ZRTO), who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation, however estimated that the police took at least 60% of operators’ revenue.
“If you write my name my buses will not be able operate but the truth is that they (police) take at least 60% of our daily takings,” he said. “To say they take 25% as you were told is a gross under-estimate.”
“This is why traffic police officers are richer than their bosses and we the operators. On paper we are the owners of the buses but in reality the police officers own our vehicles.”
Operators also have to deal with officers from the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) as well as hordes of municipal police.
Educate drivers on road blocks: Transporter
Tedius Munazvo, whose buses ply the Harare-Mhondoro route, called on the police to educate drivers about what constitutes proper roadblocks and how to deal with corrupt officers to curb corruption in the police force.
Some officers, Munazvo said, mount dubious roadblocks just to milk operators of their hard earned cash but never stop ordinary motorists fearing there could be plainclothes police officers.
He urged the police to establish a crack unit within its ranks to deal with corrupt officers.
Investigations by The Standard revealed that established transport operators do not bribe junior police officers at roadblocks.
“There are handled at a higher level,” said an operator who requested anonymity. “They pay to senior officers who would then direct their foot soldiers not to ticket selected buses.”
Former chairman ZRTO Miller Musanhi confirmed that corruption was prevalent but urged operators to make sure that their vehicles are not defective.
“If we are serious citizens let’s comply with the laws and corruption will die off,” said Musanhi, attributing an increase to graft to the poor salaries paid to civil servants.
He disputed allegations that accidents were caused by unroadworthy vehicles attributing them to the poor state of the roads. Poor roads, said Musanhi, have reduced the life-span of most buses that ply rural routes.
Police chief spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena said the police do not condone corruption and warned that anyone caught will face disciplinary action.
“I cannot deny that corruption is happening but what we are saying is that people must report such cases and drastic actions will be taken,” said Bvudzijena. “Look at what happened at Avondale Police Station.”
Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri ordered the transfer of all officers from that station ostensibly because of corruption.
Zimbabwe is ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
Following the flowing chain of corruption
Corruption, said the operators, starts from the registration of the vehicles, where officers in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development openly frustrate operators to force them to pay bribes to quicken the process.
Ordinarily, an operator’s licence should take two weeks to be issued but could take up to two months if one does not “grease” the processing officers.
Another operator, who identified himself only as Cordie, said they also bribe municipal police at Mbare Musika to make sure they are not harassed when loading passengers.
Officially, each bus pays $7 every hour in the rank but to reduce the cost operators pay municipal police $10 every morning plus the $7 so that they load passengers until their buses are full.
Said Cordie, “It is so frustrating and this is why most drivers no longer respect the police or traffic rules because they would be rushing to meet their target and to enable them to pay bribes.”
While operators pay to rank at Mbare Musika, the roads are riddled with potholes, toilets have blocked and benches are broken.
Most operators firmly believe the numerous roadblocks along the highways are a fundraising project by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
If they were meant to minimise road carnage, they questioned, why is it that in most cases the police demand spot fees or they demand a bribe?
Caiphas Chimhete
 |
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
