Herald Reporter
Zanu-PF chairman for Chadcombe- Msasa district was yesterday assaulted at the Fourth Street rank by touts popu­larly known as “mandimbandimba”.

Cde Itai Badze was assaulted after he confronted the touts at around 1pm after they increased fees the collect from kombi crews.
They also banned others buses from using the rank for leaking information to the media.
The touts increased the fees per sin­gle trip from US$2 to US$3.

Cde Badze was accompanied by Chiremba Road Commuter Opera­tors Association members who protested against the money charged by the touts.
The touts, among them a fourth dan karateka and a boxer, who were in a black Honda Odyssey and silver Range Rover assaulted Cde Badze.
“Roads in our area are in a dilapi­dated state and these guys claim they are sent by the party. As a district we know they are not our members and we have had meetings to condemn such actions. I tried to resolve the issue with them, but they assaulted me.

“That is not the behaviour of some­one from our party. The President is on record condemning violence and the party never sanctioned that people lose hard earned money and it is totally against empowerment.
“They are selfish individuals who are taking thousands into their pockets, prejudicing residents and busi­nessmen. Council is complaining against shortage of bitumen to repair roads when people are raking in a lot of money out of nothing,” Cde Badze said.

“We know their boss pockets thou­sands a day and pay runners every day. That has to stop because they are steal­ing from people who are afraid of con­fronting them because of alleged con­nections.”
One member of the “mandim­bandimba” said they have more powers than the police.

“He cannot do anything to us because even some kombis belonging to senior members in Government are paying us. The people know that we exist and they do not have powers to chase us.”

Chiremba Road Operators member, Mr Taengwa Chanonga, said they were being victimised after trying to stop the touts from collecting money.
“We are trying all we can but now we do not know if these guys are working in partnership with the police. We are victimised in the presence of the police.

Police spokesperson Chief Inspector James Sabau, yesterday said they were meeting stakeholders to resolve the issue, adding he was yet to receive Cde Badze’s assault case.

“We intend to meet all stakeholders this week including council and opera­tors and come up with a tangible solu­tion.
“The meeting would assist in com­ing up with lasting policies that solve the issue. We once tried to solve the issue but some operators were against it because it was lucrative to them. There is an out­cry now because the touts increased what they charge hence call­ing for our help.”