(LUSAKATIMES) Police demanding alot of money for road violations

Police demanding alot of money for road violations
December 2, 2008

Public drivers operating on Lusaka’s town centre-Chilenje route yesterday parked their minibuses and damaged others in protest against a traffic police officer whom they alleged has been demanding money from them for any road regulation contravention.

A driver who sought anonymity said the officer was recently transferred from Central Police station to Chilenje and since his relocation, he had been demanding money from them and whoever refused was allegedly threatened with stiff charges.

But acting Inspector General of Police, Francis Kabonde refuted the allegations and warned that the police would not allow anarchy among the drivers because they were risking lives of members of the public.

The drivers, who abandoned the route as early as 04:00 hours, started gathering at selected bus stops where they ambushed any minibus seen carrying passengers as a way of picketing.

Several residents of Chilenje South township and other areas serviced by the route were stranded at various points and some of them could not make it to work while others resorted to walking.

Those at town centre could not reach the township and other areas on the route because no minibus was allowed to operate.

A number of minibuses, mainly belonging to Flash, were damaged and by 08:00 hours about five of them were found parked at Kabwata Police Station with shattered window panes.

Stranded commuters waiting to hike a ride at Kabwata St. Patrick bus stop in Lusaka
A driver talked to said that the drivers operating on the route were angered by a traffic police officer who allegedly demanded a lot of money from them whenever they were found contravening the laws.

On why they were targeting Flash minibuses, the driver alleged the police treated the buses and drivers from the company like “sacred cows.”

Mr Kabonde and Road Transport and Safety Agency (RSTA) director Fredrick Mwalusaka are planning to introduce a law in which road contraveners will be taken to court instead of paying admission of guilt fees to the police.
Mr Kabonde and Mr Mwalusaka said the decision follows the continued complaints over charges, especially among bus operators, which in some cases has brought about
protests.
Mr Kabonde who was speaking to journalists was reacting to yesterday’s protests among bus drivers in Lusaka over the alleged impounding of buses, charging and claims of not being given receipts.
He said so far, police had not received any report of any traffic officer who was alleged to have been over charging minibus drivers and challenged those with evidence to report to his office.
He said following confusions yesterday, he summoned the officer to his office. He produced a receipt book and a number of people who have paid after admitting the charge.
He said the receipts also showed that out of 18 minibuses which were impounded, 15 had paid admission of guilty fees while the other three had not.
He said police officers would not sit and watch such lawlessness. He said police would soon be meeting the owners of the minibuses with a view of finding a lasting solution to what he termed as “life threatening ” behaviour.
And Mr Mwalusaka described the confusion, which erupted yesterday morning as sad because his organisation and drivers representatives had been holding talks over various concerns raised so far.
He said that allowing the courts to rule over the situation would address the matters of payments.
He further said the agency had no plans to increase the users fees and that it would soon be holding a public hearing on the conduct of the minibus drivers.

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