HARARE - The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) National traffic Assistant Commissioner Boby Murwira has disclosed that the force is charging a growing number of officers every week for corruption and underhand activities especially under the national traffic department.
Commissioner Murwira made the remark at a national traffic safety indaba conducted by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) in Harare as part of the global road safety week commemorated worldwide on 16 to 22 July. He made a presentation on ZRP and its role in traffic safety.
The issue of corruption within the ZRP national traffic section was highlighted by many stakeholders as a major impediment to efforts to reduce carnage on Zimbabwe’s roads.
Although Murwira had no current statistics on the number of his officers who had been dismissed from the force for corruption, he said his office was open for the public to report any corrupt activities.
“It is everyone’s mandate to expose corrupt officers,” Murwira said.
Due to police corruption, defective vehicles and incompetent drivers usually escaped road blocks and speed traps after paying brides, it has been noted.
The ZRP is mandated under section 93 of the Zimbabwe constitution to carry out policing
duties and arrest offenders including violating motorists.
Murwira remarked that during the last six months of 2010, over 900 lives had been lost due to tyre burst accidents and over speeding. He said most of the vehicles were fitted with defective tyres and it was the police duty to arrest such offenders.
Cash-starved ZRP officers were reported to be accepting bribes on national roads at the expense of human life.
Murwira noted that his office will be on full alert to flush out corrupt officers to curb further fatalities in the country.
TSCZ board chairperson, Nyepudzai Nyangulu, remarked that road traffic accidents in Zimbabwe could overtake HIV and AIDS deaths if no immediate action were taken by all concerned stakeholders.
Almost 20 people died recently in Zimbabwe when two buses, which were reported to be over-speeding collided with a haulage truck along the Harare-Bulawayo road.
The issue of policing and enforcement in Zimbabwe had been reported at the indaba to be minimal.
John Manjengwa of the Public Against Traffic Accidents Bureau (PATAB) in Harare said that most drivers were also being affected by chronic fatigue and visual impairment. He encouraged driving personnel to benefit from health management courses being offered by his bureau.
Post published in: News