Police now 'free' to violate law - Home Affairs Deputy Minister

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Obedingwa Mguni has told parliament that police are now 'free' to break the law to force motorists to  pay  traffic fines, Bulawayo24.com can reveal.

Mguni said traffic cops are now using what he termed operational memo to force offenders pay.

 He was responding to a question raised by MDC-T legislator Dorcus  Sibanda on Wednesday afternoon.

 She had asked "Has the law changed on situation when caught driving without licence, what happened to the 7 days given to produce it?".

Responded Mguni , "The Honourable member is right, but we have realised that people are running away and changing addresses.

"It has become expensive for the police to use $100 chasing after $20."

"The Police now use operational memo which gives them power to make people pay using their own means," he said without elaborating on the operational memo

 That drew sharp criticism form MDC-T legislators.

 Said one MP, "That is scandalous, they are using operational memo to defy the law.

"He is the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs coming to this house to tell us they are breaking the law...

"This is why we said Deputy Ministers are not qualified to answer questions because they don't sit in cabinet,"

 Mguni's boss, Ignatius Chombo is attended a Zanu PF politburo session.