News / National
Numerous roadblocks irks Bulawayo motorists
21 Jun 2016 at 01:58hrs | Views
Bulawayo based motorists have expressed concerns over numerous roadblocks in the city's roads and out going high ways accusing the police of not looking for real problems in the vehicle but seeking to collect bribes even if one's vehicle is in good condition.
Sam Mpofu appealed for protection from the Ministry of Home Affairs Ignatius Chombo on the actions and behaviour of the Police on the roads in Bulawayo, or any road leading out of the city centre.
He said during the day police has a roadblock and he leaves home at 9km along the Gwanda road and often encounter two road blocks.
"I often travel to Mbalabala, 60km from Bulawayo and encounter 6 road blocks. Also, I often travel to Inyathi along Nkayi road and to Thekwane a 122 km from Bulawayo. From Bulawayo to Badala on the Nkayi road, there are six road blocks and from Bulawayo to Thekwane there are eight road blocks," he said.
"At these road blocks, on most of which there is no indication of "Police Ahead". Police ranging from 3-10 in number ask for any of the following: driver's licence, fire extinguisher, check vehicle license, certificate of motor insurance, third number plate, breaks , lights, spare wheel etc. So from Bulawayo to Thekwane eight times. I find this extremely harassing. Anything amiss attracts a spot fine. There is no caution."
Mpofu said he is reliably informed that all roads in Zimbabwe are police-infested, all collecting spot fines.
"Certainly on the roads mentioned above the police are doing just that. That has become their core business. When we want them for crimes, they are not there. They are in the roads collecting money from poor motorists," he said.
"High Court judges have said that spot fines are illegal. The law enforcement agents are clearly being defiant. It all smacks of a breakdown of law and order – more significantly by the people who are supposed to be enforcing law and order."
"If you resist payment of the spot fine, the same police punish you. They detain you at the road block for quite some time and proceed to detain you at the police station for some time also. As a helpless motorist you would rather pay the fine and go. That has become the way of travel in Zimbabwe," he added.
Mpofu said of late, the V.I.D officials have joined the spree. He said they seem to have discovered a milk cow too.
"They are stopping motorists and checking our cars supposedly for road worthiness. But alas! It is the roads that are so unworthy that we drive our cars on them at our own risk. Certainly the roads to Nkayi, Tsholotsho and Maphisa fall in this category let alone the road from Plumtree to Thekwane is unarguably the worst road in this country," he said.
"Could you kindly assist sir. We need your protection as citizens of this country. Some of us are law abiding," he pleaded with the minister .
Sam Mpofu appealed for protection from the Ministry of Home Affairs Ignatius Chombo on the actions and behaviour of the Police on the roads in Bulawayo, or any road leading out of the city centre.
He said during the day police has a roadblock and he leaves home at 9km along the Gwanda road and often encounter two road blocks.
"I often travel to Mbalabala, 60km from Bulawayo and encounter 6 road blocks. Also, I often travel to Inyathi along Nkayi road and to Thekwane a 122 km from Bulawayo. From Bulawayo to Badala on the Nkayi road, there are six road blocks and from Bulawayo to Thekwane there are eight road blocks," he said.
"At these road blocks, on most of which there is no indication of "Police Ahead". Police ranging from 3-10 in number ask for any of the following: driver's licence, fire extinguisher, check vehicle license, certificate of motor insurance, third number plate, breaks , lights, spare wheel etc. So from Bulawayo to Thekwane eight times. I find this extremely harassing. Anything amiss attracts a spot fine. There is no caution."
Mpofu said he is reliably informed that all roads in Zimbabwe are police-infested, all collecting spot fines.
"Certainly on the roads mentioned above the police are doing just that. That has become their core business. When we want them for crimes, they are not there. They are in the roads collecting money from poor motorists," he said.
"High Court judges have said that spot fines are illegal. The law enforcement agents are clearly being defiant. It all smacks of a breakdown of law and order – more significantly by the people who are supposed to be enforcing law and order."
"If you resist payment of the spot fine, the same police punish you. They detain you at the road block for quite some time and proceed to detain you at the police station for some time also. As a helpless motorist you would rather pay the fine and go. That has become the way of travel in Zimbabwe," he added.
Mpofu said of late, the V.I.D officials have joined the spree. He said they seem to have discovered a milk cow too.
"They are stopping motorists and checking our cars supposedly for road worthiness. But alas! It is the roads that are so unworthy that we drive our cars on them at our own risk. Certainly the roads to Nkayi, Tsholotsho and Maphisa fall in this category let alone the road from Plumtree to Thekwane is unarguably the worst road in this country," he said.
"Could you kindly assist sir. We need your protection as citizens of this country. Some of us are law abiding," he pleaded with the minister .
Source - Byo24News
