Zimbabwe traffic police officers will soon cease collecting spot fines at roadblocks to curb corruption, Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Cho...
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Zimbabwe traffic police officers will soon cease collecting spot fines at roadblocks to curb corruption, Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo has said.
He said Government was working on mechanisms to ensure fines were paid through an electronic system. Minister Chombo revealed that about 320 police officers were fired last year for various offences bordering on abuse of office through corrupt activities. |
| No More Spot Fines |
Minister Chombo was responding to MDC-T Senator for Matabeleland South, Mrs Sithembile Mlotshwa, who sought to know the purpose of roadblocks and what Government was doing about corruption allegations against traffic police officers.
He said traffic cops played a major role in policing to ensure only roadworthy and registered vehicles brought into the country legally were on the roads.
Minister Chombo said there had been an upsurge in the importation of stolen vehicles from countries such as Mozambique, Zambia and South Africa while others were legitimately bought but smuggled into the country without paying duty.
He said police roadblocks were also meant to guard against speeding. “Out of all the 50 000 police officers that we have, some of them may not be forthright as you and I may want,” said Minister Chombo.
He said traffic cops played a major role in policing to ensure only roadworthy and registered vehicles brought into the country legally were on the roads.
Minister Chombo said there had been an upsurge in the importation of stolen vehicles from countries such as Mozambique, Zambia and South Africa while others were legitimately bought but smuggled into the country without paying duty.
He said police roadblocks were also meant to guard against speeding. “Out of all the 50 000 police officers that we have, some of them may not be forthright as you and I may want,” said Minister Chombo.
“Last year, we dismissed 320 police officers for stealing and abusing their offices at roadblocks and other offices. So the police is keen to clean up those police officers who are contravening the laws that they are supposed to uphold.”
Minister Chombo said the issue of spot fines at roadblocks was of concern to Government and mechanisms were in place to stop the rot - however he said he was not aware of the judgment.
High Court Judge, Justice Francis Bere, last year said the collection of spot fines from motorists by the police and impounding of their vehicles if they failed to pay up was illegal and must be stopped forthwith.
He said Section 356 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (Chapter 9:07), which is often cited on the matter, did not give police officers powers to force a motorist to pay a spot fine.
Justice Bere said spot fines and their retention by the police needed to be clarified as the matter had caused a lot of confusion. However, the police dismissed Justice Bere’ statement saying it was of no legal force since it was not a court ruling but his opinion. - The Herald
He said Section 356 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (Chapter 9:07), which is often cited on the matter, did not give police officers powers to force a motorist to pay a spot fine.
Justice Bere said spot fines and their retention by the police needed to be clarified as the matter had caused a lot of confusion. However, the police dismissed Justice Bere’ statement saying it was of no legal force since it was not a court ruling but his opinion. - The Herald
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