Jubilee Mahlamvana
ZVISHAVANE – The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) are now sniffing each other’s scent in a bid to respond to corruption outcries in the law enforcement sector.
This comes amid reports that police officers own the majority of ‘Fun Cargo’ vehicles that cause many accidents in towns and cities, including Zvishavane.
Zvishavane has recorded several cases of Fun Cargo-linked accidents, claiming many souls, the majority of which are said to belong to police officers.
Sources say a high-ranking delegation from ZRP visited Zvishavane last week to investigate the goings-on in and around the town with regards to traffic law enforcement.
The move is said to be a result of a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officer (name withheld) who ferried people from Zvishavane to Mberengwa in a Fun Cargo and was involved in a fatal accident which claimed two lives while three other people got badly injured.
Close to 30 vehicles were impounded by the VID last week Thursday when eight VID vehicles from Gwanda and Bulawayo unexpectedly stormed Madeira complex, targeting ‘mushikashika’ operators who use Fun Cargos to ferry people in and around Zvishavane.
Sources said several of the impounded pirate taxis were then discovered to be owned by police officers.
“We heard that most of the Fun Cargos that are causing accidents here belong to police officers and we have come specifically for them,” said one officer who was part of the team that visited the town from Harare.
The officer is well-known for handling tough traffic problems and has promised to work hard to bring the culprits to book.
Many road users, however, criticised what they called an indiscriminate seizure of all Fun Cargo vehicles regardless of their ownership and business on the road.
Another motorist said the operation was very crooked since it victimises those who innocently hustle for a living.
“This is very unfair because we are being bombarded left, right and centre with the police on roadblocks everywhere slapping us with US$50.00 tickets to pave way for their vehicles to make money,” said the motorist.news
