'There are no police officers who move around with spikes' says Chihuri

POLICE Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri has dismissed reports that traffic police officers move around throwing spikes in front of moving vehicles, saying the tyre deflating devices were only found at roadblocks.

He accused commuter omnibus drivers in particular, of causing chaos on the roads, then blaming the police when they took action.

This follows an outcry over traffic police who reportedly throw spikes at vehicles, especially kombis, thereby causing accidents that have left people dead or seriously injured.

Comm Gen Chihuri said it was wrong for people to blame the police for accidents adding that it was mischievous for people to suggest that police were after money yet it was the kombi drivers who were refusing to adhere to the traffic rules and regulations.

"Some people are bent on spreading rumours that police are going about throwing spikes. Let me state this position, there are no police officers who move around with spikes. Spikes are only found at roadblocks and intended to stop disobedient drivers who evade roadblocks," he said on the sidelines of a police pass-out parade at Ntabazinduna Training Depot outside Bulawayo yesterday.

"Spikes are not part of the police uniform and that is why you will not see police officers carrying spikes if they are not at roadblocks or checkpoints. Where can I get money to provide every police officer with spikes? Let us shift the blame where it belongs. If a driver is told to stop they must stop."

Comm Gen Chihuri asked Officer Commanding Bulawayo Province Senior Assistant Commissioner Stephen Mutamba to confirm press reports that police officers were moving around with spikes.

Snr Asst Comm Mutamba dismissed the reports and said spikes were only used at roadblocks.

Comm Gen Chihuri accused some sections of the media of blowing things out of proportion and making it seem as if police officers were ruthless, moving around carrying spikes to use willy-nilly on vehicles yet the chaos was emanating from disobedient kombi drivers.

He said it was regrettable that some members of the public and police officers had lost their lives while some were injured while enforcing the law.

"The situation is regrettable and should never be allowed to continue. There is no policeman who leaves his house for duty to assist in the loss of life. No innocent person has ever been fined without apparent reason by the police. When police are out there, their major duty is to maintain law and order and not to collect money from innocent persons," said Comm Gen Chihuri.

He added: "For the record, anybody, whether driving or pedestrian, must stop when they are required to do so by the  police. It is unlawful for anybody to refuse to stop or even to try to run away. Most of these kombi operators are operating outside the law".

The Commissioner-General said the solution was to decongest cities by providing sound public transport and improve road networks in and between towns.

He said there was overpopulation of vehicles and people in the urban Central Business Districts (CBD).

Comm Gen Chihuri gave an example of the Harare CBD, which he said has over three million people moving in and around it, yet it has only four pick-up points designed for about 280,000 people.

In one of the incidents where police were accused of spiking a kombi filled with passengers, 16 people were seriously injured after the vehicle attempting to avoid the spikes, overturned on March 12 along Khami Road in Bulawayo.

Four of the injured people have instituted legal action against the police and the State, after police ignored their demand for compensation for the pain suffered, time spent in hospital and payment of their medical bills.

Police have also come under fire for allegedly smashing windscreens of public transport vehicles which has at times been blamed for accidents.