Kombi crews complain about police demanding bribes

by staff reporter

2012 January 14 01:49:53 | 952 Views

PUBLIC transport operators in Bulawayo have raised concerns about what they said was harassment by traffic police officers who are reportedly demanding bribes despite the fact that they are making very little profits as a result of stiff competition from unregistered transporters.

The operators said commuters were now preferring illegal operators because they picked and dropped them at undesignated points within the central business district and charging mostly R3.

The operators said they wanted the Government to intervene and put an end to corruption, which they said was rampant among traffic police officers.

Acting police spokesperson for Bulawayo province Assistant Inspector Bhekimpilo Ndlovu acknowledged the existence of corrupt tendencies among traffic police officers who are reportedly demanding bribes to allow vehicles to pass through roadblocks.

He however warned that those caught demanding bribes or engaging in other corrupt activities will be prosecuted.

In separate interviews, representatives from the two main public transport associations in Bulawayo -Bulawayo United Public Transporters' Association (Bupta) and Tshova Mubaiwa said they were no longer making any money from transporting people because of stiff competition from unregistered transporters.

They said a kombi plying routes in low-density suburbs at times realised as little as $20 a day while those on western routes cashed about $30.

They appealed to the police to stop unregistered players from providing public transport.

Bupta secretary general, Mr Albert Ncube said their drivers were now getting very little as wages.

"Drivers are supposed to go for medical tests, defensive driving and retests but with the little we are paying them they cannot afford to pay for such services," he said.

Mr Ncube said police should just remove the unregistered operators from the roads.

" What is surprising is that unregistered players are allowed to operate freely while police target registered kombi operators.

"We have absolutely lost business because commuters no longer go to Egodini (Basch Street Terminus). They just go to private cars at a nearby pick up point and some of them charge R3 which we cannot do. On average, a kombi operating in the eastern suburbs and queuing at Egodini now cashes about $20 while those in western realise between $30 and $40 per day," he said.

Mr Ncube said because of poor business their members were even failing to raise route approval fees pegged at $110 paid after very six months, permits ($75 annual) and certificate of fitness which costs $20 per entry at the Vehicle Inspection Depot (VID).

Sources say the certificate of fitness is only obtainable if a transport operator pays a $100 bribe to VID officials.

Kombi crews interviewed at Egodini and other termini around the CBD said they were having a torrid time with traffic police officers at roadblocks.

They said despite realising little money, traffic police officers were no longer accepting bribes of less than $5 and at times were demanding as high as $15 per vehicle.

"We are now competing with illegal operators and at the end of the day what we cash is just nothing. Police now demand between $5 and $15 at roadblocks whether or not we have all the required papers," said a kombi driver at Egodini.
Another crew plying the City-Pumula route said they were made to pay $15 at one of the roadblocks on their way to town yesterday.

A snap survey around the major illegal pick up points around the city showed that there were scores of private cars and unregistered kombis operating in the city.

Illegal operators pick up passengers at the corner of Robert Mugabe Way and 12th Avenue, George Silundika and Leopold Takawira Avenue, Macs Garage, George Silundika Street and 8th Avenue, Kalbro and Main Street and 3rd Avenue.

Open trucks and unregistered kombis also pick up passengers from Lobengula Street and 6th Avenue, Herbert Chitepo Street near Afro Foods, Herbert Chitepo and 11th Avenue and TM Hyper where they charge R3 per passenger compared to the R5 charged by registered operators.

"The harassment we are getting should first be directed at unregistered operators. You would find that it is not that we do not abide by laws but the playing field is not level," said Mr Ncube.

He appealed to the Government to suspend the payment of some of the fees until normalcy returns to the transport sector.

Ass Insp Ndlovu appealed to members of the public to take an active role and assist the police by reporting corrupt officers.

"It is illegal for a police officer to demand bribes to allow a vehicle to pass through a road block. If caught, those who do that would be prosecuted.

"Members of the public should appreciate the fact that war against corruption can only be won with their co-operation," he said.

He said on their part the police had put in place measures to minimize corruption.

"Every police officer who is deployed to a road block is asked to declare all the money he or she has before commencement of duty. We then make impromptu visits and whoever would be caught having extra money would be asked to explain the source of the money," said Insp Ndlovu.

Mr Samson Mabunda, chairperson of Tshova Mubaiwa said:
"Business is no longer there. What kombis are cashing each day is next to nothing because business is poor."

kombi

Source: chronicle