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ZRP, ZPCS own informal bus terminus, pirate taxis
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Officers from both the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) and some government officials are operating parallel ranks with their immune-to-arrest fleet (Mushikashika) plying various paying routes throughout the country.
In an assessment, investigation and inquiry contacted since the commencement of clampdown on errant drivers, traffic offenders and illegal transport operators, members of the uniformed forces (police and prison officers) dominate in owning and controlling most informal loading and offloading spots in Harare.
A visit to various informal spots in the central business district has identified some members of the ZPCS at their headquarters operating a parallel rank stretching from Chinhoyi and Abercon streets along Fidel Castro (former Charter Street).
Renowned rank marshalls and some city council officials (operating at Market Square and Simon Muzenda bus terminus) who requested anonymity exposed the rot and accompany during the visit on sprouting ranks.
"This spot is operated and controlled by some members of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services. They assign or accompany three rank marshalls to lead in collecting various amounts on a daily basis, while sometimes like today, they are collecting on their own," the rank Marshall operating at Market Square said during a visit adjacent to the ZPCS headquarters.
During the visit at the ZPCS headquarters, three officers (prison police services) were collecting money from various commuter omnibuses with assistance from their lieutenants (rank marshalls and touts).
"Look these five commuter omnibuses are loading freely whilst others are denied access to load at this point. Of the five commuter omnibuses loading, three have paid protection fees to the prison officers whilst the other two yellow buses are immune to arrest since they are owned by a top cop," one of the rank marshals said.
Another visit at a spot near Gulf complex along Bank and corner Mbuya Nehanda streets where another fleet ply to Fourth and Budiriro (Budiriro 1 to 5) suburbubs further expose the rot.
"Those four officers from the ZRP have collected money from the touts and parallel rank established there. Amongst the commuter omnibuses you are seeing there, those six parking opposite taxis are owned by fellow officers and they are immune to clampdown," the city council official said.
"If you see their operations are intensified in selected areas not those that they have interests in. All civilian transport operators are forced to pay for protection fees so that they evade arrest or confrontation during the operation," the council official said.
A visit at the corner of Speke and Leopold Takawira further exposed the rot when some pirate taxis plying Parirenyatwa Avondale route were loading freely without any challenge.
"All these Mushikashikas are owned by members of the uniformed forces (police and prisons) and influencial government officials. Their fleet cash in handsomely at the end of the day and their drivers surpass daily targets while during the peak of the blitz, some cops will be loading whilst in their uniforms," the rank marshall said.
"At the corner of Mbuya Nehanda and Jason Moyo streets, all Wish vehicles loading Mabelreign and Westgate are owned by members from the police. At Fourth bus terminus, they own and control those plying Ruwa, Msasa, Marondera, among other routes," he said.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has so far arrested over five thousand traffic offenders in its bid to restore order in the Harare Central Business District in an operation that was launched close to a month ago.
The operation against errand motorists is being carried out by the police.
“We have arrested 5 138 traffic violators who have been accounted for by the police, with some paying fines, while others will be taken to court. Sanity has to be restored in the city and we will apply the law without fear or favour,” ZRP spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi said then.
Commuters believe if police enforce the traffic laws, sanity will prevail, but a conflict of interest has arisen since some vehicles owned by members of the uniformed forces have proven to be immune to arrest and may load or offload wherever they wish.
Contacted for comment on establishment of parallel ranks by members from Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services adjacent to its headquarters along Fidel Castro (former Charter Street) street, the national deputy public relations officer, Mr Peter Chaparanganda distanced the claims while referring all questions to Harare city council.
"We don't own or operate a rank in Harare or any place around Zimbabwe. Please be guided accordingly and kindly be advised that it is the duty of the city council and ZRP in bringing sanity to our city. Please do report any informal or illegal operations (if there is any) by members of the ZPCS," Chaparanganda said.
"We are against corruption and kindly inquire with the council authorities on those sprouting ranks adjacent to the ZPCS offices. Anyone conducting or operating a rank at our premises is risking losing their job or face imminent arrest, but as far as I know, we have no officers operating pirate taxis business or a parallel rank," Chaparanganda added.
Efforts to get a comment from Harare city council spokesperson, Stanley Gama were fruitless as his phone was not reachable.
In an assessment, investigation and inquiry contacted since the commencement of clampdown on errant drivers, traffic offenders and illegal transport operators, members of the uniformed forces (police and prison officers) dominate in owning and controlling most informal loading and offloading spots in Harare.
A visit to various informal spots in the central business district has identified some members of the ZPCS at their headquarters operating a parallel rank stretching from Chinhoyi and Abercon streets along Fidel Castro (former Charter Street).
Renowned rank marshalls and some city council officials (operating at Market Square and Simon Muzenda bus terminus) who requested anonymity exposed the rot and accompany during the visit on sprouting ranks.
"This spot is operated and controlled by some members of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services. They assign or accompany three rank marshalls to lead in collecting various amounts on a daily basis, while sometimes like today, they are collecting on their own," the rank Marshall operating at Market Square said during a visit adjacent to the ZPCS headquarters.
During the visit at the ZPCS headquarters, three officers (prison police services) were collecting money from various commuter omnibuses with assistance from their lieutenants (rank marshalls and touts).
"Look these five commuter omnibuses are loading freely whilst others are denied access to load at this point. Of the five commuter omnibuses loading, three have paid protection fees to the prison officers whilst the other two yellow buses are immune to arrest since they are owned by a top cop," one of the rank marshals said.
Another visit at a spot near Gulf complex along Bank and corner Mbuya Nehanda streets where another fleet ply to Fourth and Budiriro (Budiriro 1 to 5) suburbubs further expose the rot.
"Those four officers from the ZRP have collected money from the touts and parallel rank established there. Amongst the commuter omnibuses you are seeing there, those six parking opposite taxis are owned by fellow officers and they are immune to clampdown," the city council official said.
"If you see their operations are intensified in selected areas not those that they have interests in. All civilian transport operators are forced to pay for protection fees so that they evade arrest or confrontation during the operation," the council official said.
A visit at the corner of Speke and Leopold Takawira further exposed the rot when some pirate taxis plying Parirenyatwa Avondale route were loading freely without any challenge.
"All these Mushikashikas are owned by members of the uniformed forces (police and prisons) and influencial government officials. Their fleet cash in handsomely at the end of the day and their drivers surpass daily targets while during the peak of the blitz, some cops will be loading whilst in their uniforms," the rank marshall said.
"At the corner of Mbuya Nehanda and Jason Moyo streets, all Wish vehicles loading Mabelreign and Westgate are owned by members from the police. At Fourth bus terminus, they own and control those plying Ruwa, Msasa, Marondera, among other routes," he said.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has so far arrested over five thousand traffic offenders in its bid to restore order in the Harare Central Business District in an operation that was launched close to a month ago.
The operation against errand motorists is being carried out by the police.
“We have arrested 5 138 traffic violators who have been accounted for by the police, with some paying fines, while others will be taken to court. Sanity has to be restored in the city and we will apply the law without fear or favour,” ZRP spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi said then.
Commuters believe if police enforce the traffic laws, sanity will prevail, but a conflict of interest has arisen since some vehicles owned by members of the uniformed forces have proven to be immune to arrest and may load or offload wherever they wish.
Contacted for comment on establishment of parallel ranks by members from Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services adjacent to its headquarters along Fidel Castro (former Charter Street) street, the national deputy public relations officer, Mr Peter Chaparanganda distanced the claims while referring all questions to Harare city council.
"We don't own or operate a rank in Harare or any place around Zimbabwe. Please be guided accordingly and kindly be advised that it is the duty of the city council and ZRP in bringing sanity to our city. Please do report any informal or illegal operations (if there is any) by members of the ZPCS," Chaparanganda said.
"We are against corruption and kindly inquire with the council authorities on those sprouting ranks adjacent to the ZPCS offices. Anyone conducting or operating a rank at our premises is risking losing their job or face imminent arrest, but as far as I know, we have no officers operating pirate taxis business or a parallel rank," Chaparanganda added.
Efforts to get a comment from Harare city council spokesperson, Stanley Gama were fruitless as his phone was not reachable.
Source - Byo24News
