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A kombi driver flouts city by-laws by picking up passengers at a prohibited area in front of Town House in Harare yesterday

Albert Chavhunduka and Freeman Razemba
Police have warned kombi drivers to desist from speeding off when stopped by policemen on duty as they risk the lives of innocent people.
This follows an incident in which a Harare man was killed by a kombi near the intersection of Chinhoyi and Bank Streets in Harare on Tuesday afternoon.
The kombi driver, Takesure Musara (20), has since been arrested in connection with the case. Several people have expressed concern over such cases and urged the relevant authorities to address the ‘war’ between the police and kombi crews.

Musara who was driving a Nissan Caravan towards Mbare, saw three policemen on duty and he reversed to evade arrest.
Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, said while Musara was reversing, he hit the pedestrian who was crossing the road.

The victim sustained serious head injuries and died on the spot.
“Immediately vendors from Paradise Shopping Mall and the general public besieged the scene, intending to assault the policemen and the commuter omnibus driver,” she said.

She said such conduct was in contravention of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for undermining the authority of the police.
“The ZRP would therefore like to warn commuter omnibus drivers to desist from driving away from police when they are stopped as police would be conducting their lawful duties on the roads.

“Drivers should have a conscience and sober mind when driving in public or crowded places,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.
She said they were concerned that the driver of the kombi was below the stipulated age of 25, which is permissible to drive public service vehicles in terms of the law. Snr Asst Comm Charamba warned the public to avoid mobbing the police and to desist from interfering with lawful duties.

She also urged the media to report objectively instead of instigating the public to turn against the police who will be lawfully maintaining law and order.

In an interview a taxi driver, Mr Godknows Kadonzvo, expressed concern over the conduct of some of his colleagues.
“The problem is not with the police, some drivers do not want to comply with the traffic rules. For example they don’t have registration certificates, fitness certificates and motor insurances. So these are the same people who are causing problems with the police on the streets,” he said.

A kombi driver Mr Owen Chakurungana said, “We go through road blocks that are countless and we pay fines. It’s the same even in town where we’re chased around by the police so it leaves us with no option but to speed off so as to save the little money we make.”