News / National
Zimbabwe to abolish traffic spot fines
16 Mar 2012 at 01:10hrs | Views
GOVERNMENT is working on a new policy that will abolish spot fines being paid by traffic offenders and replace them with a new penalty system.
Co-Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi on Wednesday told Parliament that the matter was discussed in Cabinet on Tuesday.
"Yesterday (Tuesday), we debated thoroughly in Cabinet whether there is any merit in spot fines or whether people must be given tickets and go to pay at a nearest police station or court," he said.
Minister Mohadi said the Government wanted to ensure the Road Traffic Act was convenient to the motoring public. There has been an outcry of late, especially among commuter omnibus operators that the police were demanding bribes at roadblocks.
Spot fines have been cited as a major contributor to corruption.
The police have urged the public to report any police officer who demands bribes, but said they will continue enforcing road traffic regulations.
Some traffic police officers have reportedly been taking bribes from motorists caught exceeding speed limits or driving defective vehicles.
Those who failed to pay spot fines were asked to leave their vehicles at nearest police stations and only collect them after paying fines.
Minister Mohadi told the House of Assembly that the appointment of the Police Commissioner-General was outside his purview.
He said this while responding to Makoni South representative Mr Pishai Muchauraya (MDC-T) on the status of Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri.
"The appointment of the Police Commissioner General is not a matter that is done by the minister, but is done by His Excellency President Mugabe," he said.
Comm-Gen Chihuri's term of office was extended by the President early this year in line with constitutional requirements despite protests by MDC-T that their leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had not been consulted.
Meanwhile, Housing and Social Amenities Minister Giles Mutsekwa said the formulation of a Land Developers Bill was at an advanced stage to protect the public from unscrupulous land developers.
Minister Mutsekwa said the issue was also discussed in Cabinet this week.
Co-Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi on Wednesday told Parliament that the matter was discussed in Cabinet on Tuesday.
"Yesterday (Tuesday), we debated thoroughly in Cabinet whether there is any merit in spot fines or whether people must be given tickets and go to pay at a nearest police station or court," he said.
Minister Mohadi said the Government wanted to ensure the Road Traffic Act was convenient to the motoring public. There has been an outcry of late, especially among commuter omnibus operators that the police were demanding bribes at roadblocks.
Spot fines have been cited as a major contributor to corruption.
The police have urged the public to report any police officer who demands bribes, but said they will continue enforcing road traffic regulations.
Some traffic police officers have reportedly been taking bribes from motorists caught exceeding speed limits or driving defective vehicles.
Minister Mohadi told the House of Assembly that the appointment of the Police Commissioner-General was outside his purview.
He said this while responding to Makoni South representative Mr Pishai Muchauraya (MDC-T) on the status of Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri.
"The appointment of the Police Commissioner General is not a matter that is done by the minister, but is done by His Excellency President Mugabe," he said.
Comm-Gen Chihuri's term of office was extended by the President early this year in line with constitutional requirements despite protests by MDC-T that their leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had not been consulted.
Meanwhile, Housing and Social Amenities Minister Giles Mutsekwa said the formulation of a Land Developers Bill was at an advanced stage to protect the public from unscrupulous land developers.
Minister Mutsekwa said the issue was also discussed in Cabinet this week.
Source - TH
