‘Spot fines to stay’

By Wendy Muperi

HARARE – Home Affairs permanent secretary Melusi Matshiya on Monday told legislators that spot fines will stay forever.

Presenting oral evidence before the parliamentary portfolio committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services, Matshiya said spot fines are convenient for police until the law enforcement agency digitalises its operations.

“The official position is spot fines are there to stay and it is legal for police to collect the fines on spot,” Matshiya said.

“In cases where one doesn’t have the money, it can be discussed with the officer-in-charge and make arrangements to pay later.

“The problem we have from such arrangements is we have had people giving false addresses and we go on a wild goose chase. You end up spending $500 to recover $20, that’s not viable.”

The sentiments come after Justice Andrew Mutema made a ruling against police in a case presented by former MDC MP for Lupane West, Njabuliso Mguni barring police from collecting spot fines.

Although well received by the public, the police force is apparently uncomfortable with losing its major cash-cow.

Clifford Sibanda, the committee’s chair, queried why the police was failing to bring culprits to book through vehicle registration tracking.

Matshiya said his ministry is pushing for an electronic traffic management system to holistically deal with problems associated with spot fines and general corruption.

“While Zinara (Zimbabwe National Roads Administration) has done what it can, police hasn’t,” Matshiya said.

“I want a situation where the police can just key in and get the information rather than the current situation where we have a police officer sitting on the opposite chair asking for information from the Central Vehicle Registration department.”

Through spot fines, traffic police have been accused of fuelling corruption on the highways.

Several police officers have been convicted over the vice. Daily News