News / National
Cops ordered to stop windscreen smashing
24 Apr 2013 at 08:02hrs | Views
POLICE officers have been ordered to stop shattering commuter omnibus windscreens and any other activities likely to endanger the lives of passengers when carrying out their duties in and around Harare.
In an interview yesterday, national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi urged kombi drivers to co-operate with police when arrested.
Chief Supt Nyathi said the force was also against the behaviour of some of the kombi drivers, especially when stopped after breaking the law.
He said reckless driving and speeding was putting the lives of the passengers in danger.
He said police would only use minimum force when members of the public and officers were being attacked but should do this bearing in mind the safety of the people. Last week 12 people, including the driver, were injured when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in overturned in the Harare city centre after municipal officers threw spikes. The accident occurred at around 8.50am near the intersection of Harare Street and Abercorn Street.
Angered by the incident, members of the public reportedly attacked the municipal officers accusing them of causing the accident. Early this month, commuter omnibus operators said they were unhappy with the use of spikes by the Harare traffic enforcement police arguing the practice had claimed lives, caused injury and damage to property.
Secretary-general of the Urban Commuter Omnibus Operators' Association Mr Simbarashe Ngarande said council should find an alternative method of controlling the movement of kombis in the city instead of the spikes. He said the use of the spikes had resulted in the death of three people and injured several others.
However, Harare Town Clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi recently defended the use of the spikes saying kombi drivers should "simply abide by the law to avoid the use of the spikes". He said since the traffic enforcement police began to use the spikes, traffic offences had declined in the city.
Police have since engaged the operators, council and other stakeholders with a view to finding a lasting solution to the problems of congestion in the CBD.
In an interview yesterday, national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi urged kombi drivers to co-operate with police when arrested.
Chief Supt Nyathi said the force was also against the behaviour of some of the kombi drivers, especially when stopped after breaking the law.
He said reckless driving and speeding was putting the lives of the passengers in danger.
He said police would only use minimum force when members of the public and officers were being attacked but should do this bearing in mind the safety of the people. Last week 12 people, including the driver, were injured when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in overturned in the Harare city centre after municipal officers threw spikes. The accident occurred at around 8.50am near the intersection of Harare Street and Abercorn Street.
Angered by the incident, members of the public reportedly attacked the municipal officers accusing them of causing the accident. Early this month, commuter omnibus operators said they were unhappy with the use of spikes by the Harare traffic enforcement police arguing the practice had claimed lives, caused injury and damage to property.
Secretary-general of the Urban Commuter Omnibus Operators' Association Mr Simbarashe Ngarande said council should find an alternative method of controlling the movement of kombis in the city instead of the spikes. He said the use of the spikes had resulted in the death of three people and injured several others.
However, Harare Town Clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi recently defended the use of the spikes saying kombi drivers should "simply abide by the law to avoid the use of the spikes". He said since the traffic enforcement police began to use the spikes, traffic offences had declined in the city.
Police have since engaged the operators, council and other stakeholders with a view to finding a lasting solution to the problems of congestion in the CBD.
Source - TH
