Harare Municipal Police have introduced a new enforcement system that will see pirate taxis and illegal kombis charged US$172 for every recorded offence when they are eventually impounded.
Under the “docket and multiply” approach, officers are no longer making immediate arrests in crowded areas. Instead, they are documenting violations and charging operators cumulatively once their vehicles are captured.
Explaining the system during a recent interview on Zimpapers’ Capitalk 100.4FM No Holds Barred programme, Chief Superintendent for Harare City Council Municipal Police, Tarisai Chendambuya, said officers were now moving in groups of five to record offenders at illegal pick-up points.
“Yes, people may say whatever they want, but the system that was put in place by our chief traffic officer is that a group of five municipal police officers move around taking number plates of all vehicles at illegal pick-up points, putting the number plates in a book and taking pictures,” said Chief Supt Chendambuya.
He dismissed allegations of collusion with illegal transport operators, saying apprehending rogue operators was not straightforward.
“You may sometimes see municipal police at illegal pick-up points, but the challenge is that you cannot catch these operators with your hands like you would when catching mice,” he said. “It is not as easy as catching mice with your hands.”
Under the new method, when a vehicle is later impounded, all prior offences that were recorded against its number plate are added together.
“When they eventually manage to capture the vehicle, all recorded incidents will be multiplied by US$172,” Chief Supt Chendambuya said.
“If you ask illegal kombi operators, they will tell you that their fines are being multiplied by their previous offences.”
He said the decision to avoid immediate chases was deliberate, to protect pedestrians and vendors in the central business district.
“Remember, we are dealing with people who are prepared to commit a crime,” he said.
“If you look closely, a conductor will be holding the door of a kombi while loading passengers, and if you approach them recklessly, you will endanger pedestrians.
“The CBD has many vendors who line their wares along pavements. It is not about simply chasing illegal pirate operators because it would be worse to let them run over pedestrians. We therefore let them go and wait for a safer day.”
More: The Herald
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