HARARE - Police in Harare have warned commuter omnibuses against endangering police officers and members of the public as they try to flee from cops in a bid to evade arrest.

Acting Harare police spokesperson Tarirai Dube said four law enforcement agents have been injured while one has been killed in skirmishes with defiant kombi drivers and said they will not watch while “lawlessness” prevails.

Dube said some of the public vehicle drivers do not have requisite documents and some have been charged with attempted murder and culpable homicide for endangering the lives of police officers.

The police spokesperson said kombi drivers must be whipped into line if sanity is to prevail in Harare.
“There are four recorded attempted murder cases and one culpable homicide case,” Dube said.

“For example, on February 6, 2013, constable Makuvaro was knocked down by a commuter omnibus with registration number ACE 2302 which was picking passengers at an undesignated point at corner Samora Machel Avenues and Sixth Street.

“The officer sustained left hand and right rib injuries. The driver was apprehended by a member of the Zimbabwe National Army.”

She said a similar case was recorded on February 9, 2013 when one police officer identified as Chinyamakobvu was kidnapped, assaulted using an unknown object until he became unconscious.

“The conductor (commuter omnibus attendant) shoved the police officer out of a moving vehicle ABZ 8075. The vehicle had a tyre puncture and the crew took to their heels. Members of the public chased them and they were arrested for attempted murder,” Dube said.

She warned that police will not rest until the fight against commuter omnibus drivers who are risking the safety of the travelling public was won.

Kombi drivers, however, say police were smashing their windscreens for minor transgressions, and said it was infact the cops that have become a “menace” on the roads. - Xolisani Ncube