Opinion / Columnist
Chinotimba: Stop Joking with People's Lives !
16 Jan 2015 at 04:35hrs | Views
In a move that left a signature mark in town , comedian and legislator Cde Joseph Chinotimba staged a one man demo that was immediately joined by touts and pirate taxi drivers.
The legislator who is well-known for his self made comic stature, demonstrated against the harassment of pirate taxi drivers by the Municipal Police and ZRP. His plea immediately got obvious sympathy from his target group with whom he has imposed himself as their patron. Pirate taxis have become famous for the wrong reasons; they have become known for causing congestion, loading at undesignated zones and causing accidents along the process.
The same has been noted for touts who have become a menace to society, whose unruly behaviour has seen them harass and abuse women for wearing clothes of their choice.
Whilst we acknowledge the need for creating more jobs, CHRA is unequivocally against earning a living through uncouth means that involve creating disorder and anarchy coupled with abusing women's rights. We condemn Cde Chinotimba's advocacy in the strongest of terms as this is tantamount to promoting loss of innocent lives. The reckless and dangerous driving by pirate taxi operators has in many cases caused accidents and in some instances led to loss of lives.
We call upon residents of Harare to use designated pick -up points and always make it a point to use registered and traceable public transport for their safety. Politics is a game of smear campaigns, but as an Association we become worried when respected individuals politic with people's lives and rights. CHRA will not tolerate touts who hide under their political banner to perennially flout city by-laws. We remain committed to the restoration of order and sanity in our CBD.
The legislator who is well-known for his self made comic stature, demonstrated against the harassment of pirate taxi drivers by the Municipal Police and ZRP. His plea immediately got obvious sympathy from his target group with whom he has imposed himself as their patron. Pirate taxis have become famous for the wrong reasons; they have become known for causing congestion, loading at undesignated zones and causing accidents along the process.
The same has been noted for touts who have become a menace to society, whose unruly behaviour has seen them harass and abuse women for wearing clothes of their choice.
Whilst we acknowledge the need for creating more jobs, CHRA is unequivocally against earning a living through uncouth means that involve creating disorder and anarchy coupled with abusing women's rights. We condemn Cde Chinotimba's advocacy in the strongest of terms as this is tantamount to promoting loss of innocent lives. The reckless and dangerous driving by pirate taxi operators has in many cases caused accidents and in some instances led to loss of lives.
We call upon residents of Harare to use designated pick -up points and always make it a point to use registered and traceable public transport for their safety. Politics is a game of smear campaigns, but as an Association we become worried when respected individuals politic with people's lives and rights. CHRA will not tolerate touts who hide under their political banner to perennially flout city by-laws. We remain committed to the restoration of order and sanity in our CBD.
Source - Tendai Muchada (Combined Harare Residents Association)
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