HARARE - The police have warned public transport operators against hiking fares during the Independence and Easter holidays, saying it was prejudicial to the public and will inconvenience those who want to visit their loved ones.
Addressing journalists in the city, national police spokesperson, senior assistant commissioner Charity Charamba said public transport operators will not be allowed to maximise their business by taking advantage of people’s desperation to travel during the holidays.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) would like to warn motorists and all road users that police officers will be deployed in full force on all the country’s major highways,” Charamba said.
“As police, we are also aware that some unscrupulous operators would like to take advantage of the holidays to raise their fares and charge exorbitant prices. We encourage passengers who would have been charged exorbitant fares to report to police officers at the roadblocks.
“In the same vein, the ZRP would like to reiterate its call on ‘no to corruption’.”
Public transport operators are in the habit of hiking fares during public holidays and picking or dropping passengers at undesignated places.
Charamba said the police would not tolerate any form of corruption in the public transport sector, including the hiking of fares.
“The ZRP has set up anti-corruption teams and police commanders would be out supervising members deployed at the road blocks in order to stamp out corruption,” Charamba said. “I urge motorists to desist from tempting our police officers on the roads and to abide by the law. Anyone caught on the wrong side will face the wrath of the law.”