Police taken to court over spot fines

January 9, 2017

Source: Nunurai Jena, NewsDay

Original article URL

Transparency International-Zimbabwe (TIZ) has taken the Zimbabwe Republic Police to court for defying a court order to stop demanding spot fines.

TIZ executive director, Mary-Jane Ncube, said her organisation has filed papers at the Bulawayo High Court to make a decree over the matter, since the police continue forcing motorists to pay spot fines or risk having their vehicles impounded.

Ncube argued spot fines spawned corruption on the roads.

“The police are to blame for the corruption on our roads as the spot fines they demand from motorists entice them (motorists) to pay bribes for fear that their vehicles will be impounded,” she said.

The TIZ director said the matter has not yet been set down.

Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo and Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri conceded late last year that it was unconstitutional for traffic police officers to demand payment of spot fines from motorists at roadblocks.

Source: Nunurai Jena, NewsDay

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