'Police revenue targets fuel corruption'

Long-distance bus operators say revenue targets given to traffic police manning roadblocks have contributed to increased corruption.

They add that the preponderance of corruption means unroadworthy vehilces are operating on public roads, in turn causing a surge in traffic accidents.

Coach and Bus Operators Association chief executive Mr Alex Kautsiro said this when he appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Communications on Monday.

Mr Kautsiro said police were concentrating on meeting targets set for them by their superiors in terms of collecting fines, instead of removing unroadworthy vehicles from the country's roads.

"There is laxity in law enforcement," he said.

"Our laws have loopholes. Our law enforcement agencies are given targets to achieve and this makes it difficult for them because they have to first achieve that target without ensuring that other laws are adhered to.

"As long as one has money in their pocket, one can pay and go. The only vehicles that you see impounded belong to those who don't have money or have refused to pay (bribes)."

Addressing the same committee, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe managing director Mr Obia Chinyere said Government was working on a policy that would grant councils more power to regulate safety issues on roads.

"We are working on a road safety policy where we will say who is accountable for what," he said.

"At the moment we cannot say there is a faulty bridge, do not use it, yet NSSA can close a building if there is faulty (electrical wiring).

"We are supposed to be the lead agency, but we do not have the terminal responsibility."

Mr Chinyere said there was a general increase in indiscipline, especially drunk driving, on the country's roads, resulting in a high number of accidents, fatalities and injuries.

He said at least five people die every day in road accidents.