'Mandimbandimba' assault Zanu-PF official

Zanu-PF chairman for Chadcombe - Msasa district was yesterday assaulted at the Fourth Street rank by touts popularly known as "mandimbandimba".

Itai Badze was assaulted after he confronted the touts at around 1pm after they increased fees the collect from kombi crews. They also banned others buses from using the rank for leaking information to the media.

The touts increased the fees per single trip from US$2 to US$3.

Badze was accompanied by Chiremba Road Commuter Operators Association members who protested against the money charged by the touts.

The touts, among them a fourth dan karateka and a boxer, who were in a black Honda Odyssey and silver Range Rover assaulted Badze.

"Roads in our area are in a dilapidated state and these guys claim they are sent by the party. As a district we know they are not our members and we have had meetings to condemn such actions. I tried to resolve the issue with them, but they assaulted me.

"That is not the behaviour of someone from our party. The President is on record condemning violence and the party never sanctioned that people lose hard earned money and it is totally against empowerment.

"They are selfish individuals who are taking thousands into their pockets, prejudicing residents and businessmen. Council is complaining against shortage of bitumen to repair roads when people are raking in a lot of money out of nothing," Badze said.

"We know their boss pockets thousands a day and pay runners every day. That has to stop because they are stealing from people who are afraid of confronting them because of alleged connections."

One member of the "mandimbandimba" said they have more powers than the police.

"He cannot do anything to us because even some kombis belonging to senior members in Government are paying us. The people know that we exist and they do not have powers to chase us."

Chiremba Road Operators member, Mr Taengwa Chanonga, said they were being victimised after trying to stop the touts from collecting money.

"We are trying all we can but now we do not know if these guys are working in partnership with the police. We are victimised in the presence of the police.

Police spokesperson Chief Inspector James Sabau, yesterday said they were meeting stakeholders to resolve the issue, adding he was yet to receive Badze's assault case.

"We intend to meet all stakeholders this week including council and operators and come up with a tangible solution.

"The meeting would assist in coming up with lasting policies that solve the issue. We once tried to solve the issue but some operators were against it because it was lucrative to them. There is an outcry now because the touts increased what they charge hence calling for our help."