Mashonaland Central police boss, Assistant Commissioner
David Mahoya has ordered the arrest of his subordinates engaging in corrupt
activities including demanding bribes from motorists passing through COVID-19
checkpoints.
In a leaked memo dated April 8 seen by NewsDay, Mahoya said
all offending officers and motorists would be brought to book.
“It has been observed with concern that some police
officers in police uniform are now being used as passes at roadblocks and
checkpoints by some motorists who may want to do their business in cities and
towns. Such motorists pay police officers a fee so that they are waved through
the roadblocks and checkpoints,” he said.
“In the same vein, some members manning the roadblocks and
checkpoints are also demanding bribes in United States dollars from motorists
so that they get free passage when, in fact, they don’t fall under the
essential service.”
Mahoya said supervisors should ensure operatives at
roadblocks and checkpoints scrutinize and question all civilian vehicles with
police officers in uniform to establish the purpose of the trip and whether the
member would be on duty or not.
“Where the trip or purpose is not exempted under the
lockdown regulations, the vehicles should be ordered to return or (occupants)
arrested. Supervisors of the roadblocks should be vigilant so that such acts of
corruption are detected and stopped,” he said.
The senior police officer also ordered that disciplinary
action be instituted against members who abuse the police uniform or demand
bribes in order to let vehicles through.
The matter comes barely a week after a public outcry over
police brutality and bribe-seeking behaviour by security officers enforcing the
lockdown order. Newsday
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