Opinion / Columnist
Reduce roadblocks on highways
30 Sep 2014 at 08:25hrs | Views
I concur with the idea of stopping those useless roadblocks which are causing more harm than good to motorists.
I even doubt the competency of whoever is in charge of such operations. It does not make sense to man a roadblock just after Chikwanha Business Centre in Chitungwiza, with another one just after the bridge, and one at the Airport near Chinhamo service station, another one just before Maruta in Hatfield, as well as another one just after the corner of St Patrick's way and Seke road.
What will they be looking for to justify five roadblocks on a stretch of less than 20 kilometres or less? The idea of spot fines is sheer madness in my view.
People end up paying as a way of trying to prevent delays to their programmes as they may miss appointments or business opportunities. These exercises can only fuel up corruption, as one may not have adequate funds to pay for the fines normally ranging between $10 and $20.
Let's say one only has $5 in his or her purse at the time of arrest and that person does not want to miss an appointment or is only left with a quarter of an hour to meet his or her bank manager to present a justification or business plan afterwhich funds would be made available to finance the business, what they would do. Obviously, an attempt to give away the $5 would be the last option under the circumstances.
I even doubt the competency of whoever is in charge of such operations. It does not make sense to man a roadblock just after Chikwanha Business Centre in Chitungwiza, with another one just after the bridge, and one at the Airport near Chinhamo service station, another one just before Maruta in Hatfield, as well as another one just after the corner of St Patrick's way and Seke road.
What will they be looking for to justify five roadblocks on a stretch of less than 20 kilometres or less? The idea of spot fines is sheer madness in my view.
People end up paying as a way of trying to prevent delays to their programmes as they may miss appointments or business opportunities. These exercises can only fuel up corruption, as one may not have adequate funds to pay for the fines normally ranging between $10 and $20.
Let's say one only has $5 in his or her purse at the time of arrest and that person does not want to miss an appointment or is only left with a quarter of an hour to meet his or her bank manager to present a justification or business plan afterwhich funds would be made available to finance the business, what they would do. Obviously, an attempt to give away the $5 would be the last option under the circumstances.
Source - Zim Mail
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