Bulawayo concerned about police spikes

News
BULAWAYO City Council has expressed concern over the use of tyre-shredding spike strips at roadblocks in the city and is now seeking dialogue with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).

BULAWAYO City Council has expressed concern over the use of tyre-shredding spike strips at roadblocks in the city and is now seeking dialogue with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).

CHIEF REPORTER

Councillors said the use of spikes had caused several accidents and endangered the lives of the city’s commuters.

They said alternative means to deal with offending commuter omnibus drivers should be found.

According to the latest council report, councillors Tamani Ncube and Ernest Rafamoyo raised the issue and cited the case of a commuter omnibus which overturned at the Khami flyover bridge in Kelvin injuring 16 commuters after its tyres were deflated by spikes thrown onto its path by police manning a roadblock.

The kombi overturned three times before stopping at the edge of the bridge.

The police accused the driver of the kombi Nqobile Moyo (23) for negligence.

“Councillor Earnest Rafamoyo concurred and suggested dialogue with police on this sensitive issue, as residents were also worried about this,” reads part of the report.

Councillor Macdonald Chunga suggested that the police should record vehicle registration numbers for tracking defiant commuter operators rather than using spikes.

However, councillor Norman Hlabani said it was difficult for council to approach the police as they fell under different ministries.

He instead said there was need to lobby MPs to raise the matter with the police.

Chamber secretary Sikhangezile Zhou concurred with Chunga saying the police had power to set up roadblocks and council had no right to man roadblocks, but worked in collaboration with the police.

“The misconduct of commuter omnibus drivers had caused the use of spikes by ZRP.

“Council has no power to regulate police duties. However, council could engage stakeholders on this sensitive issue as necessary,” said Zhou.

Police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri last week said police only used the spikes when it was unavoidable.

However, in Bulawayo most cops manning roadblocks carry spikes and use them often especially against suspected pirate taxis.