HARARE – The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested two traffic police officers caught red-handed accepting bribes from kombi and mushikashika drivers at the Mabvuku turn-off along the Harare-Mutare Road. My Zimbabwe News has searched for the two allegedly rotten cops and the image above reveals their faces.
The arrests of Sergeant James Chifamba and Constable Trymore Mukunza follow a video exposé that went viral, showing the officers openly soliciting and accepting bribes from motorists. This action marks a significant step in the ZRP’s ongoing efforts to tackle corruption within its ranks.
The video footage clearly depicts Sergeant Chifamba and Constable Mukunza accepting bribes from drivers of kombis, taxis, and other vehicles with apparent defects. The brazen nature of the bribery, occurring in broad daylight, has sparked public outrage and calls for stricter measures to curb police corruption. National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the arrests and the subsequent investigations.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police informs the public that Sergeant Chifamba and Constable Mukunza have been arrested and are now in detention,” Commissioner Nyathi stated.
“They are facing both disciplinary and criminal charges; these are bad apples who do not deserve to be serving in the Police Service. The Commissioner-General of Police does not condone corruption by any police officer and will ensure that the law takes its course without fear or favour,” he added.
While the arrests of the two officers have brought a sense of relief to many Harare residents, the incident highlights a wider problem of corruption within the traffic police force. The video exposé, according to some, is merely the tip of the iceberg, suggesting that widespread corruption is rife among traffic officers.
Mr Moses Marodza, a motorist, commented on the potential scale of the problem: “The police must implement robust monitoring measures for officers on traffic duty, as this clip suggests each officer could be pocketing hundreds of dollars daily. Just imagine that in less than five minutes, they had collected bribes from five motorists and how much will be collected in an hour?”
The issue extends beyond the direct impact on individual drivers. Commuters have voiced concerns about the link between police corruption and road accidents.
A Mabvuku commuter stated: “Traffic police officers can be the solution in reducing some of the road traffic accidents being recorded countrywide if they refuse to be wooed by bribes. A number of road traffic accidents have been recorded in the country and last week five passengers perished on the spot in Kuwadzana along the Harare/Bulawayo highway. Some of these commuter omnibuses are unroadworthy but the drivers and owners bribe traffic officers to allow them to operate while risking people’s lives.”
The problem is further exacerbated by the prevalence of illegal pirate taxis in Harare. These unlicensed vehicles frequently flout traffic laws, posing significant risks to pedestrians and other road users.
Ms Yvonne Kwenda, a Harare resident, commented: “The moment you see police officers playing a cat-and-mouse game in the CBD, it means they would have been let in by their fellow colleagues at a certain roadblock. They must continue punishing rogue police officers if we are to effectively deal with illegal pirate taxis.”
The arrests of Sergeant Chifamba and Constable Mukunza are a direct response to Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga’s earlier warning against police officers engaging in extortion and other corrupt practices. The Commissioner-General’s firm stance against corruption is evident in these recent arrests and serves as a deterrent to other officers involved in similar activities.
The question remains whether the kombi drivers who offered the bribes will also face legal consequences. Mr Blessing Matimba believes that both parties should be held accountable to effectively combat corruption: “They should arrest both parties to kill corruption. Civilians sometimes lure law enforcement agents to take bribes.”
Ms Gloria Zhou highlighted the role of the public in exposing corruption: “As Zimbabweans, we also have a crucial role to play, particularly in holding corrupt police officers in the Zimbabwe Republic Police accountable. By doing so, we can create a safer and more orderly environment on our roads.”
