HARARE - Illegal activities will continue to be rife in the city council until police take action, Harare mayor Muchadeyi Masunda has said.

Masunda expressed disappointment at the behaviour of police personnel whom he alleged are breaking city by-laws in full public view.

Due to such police behaviour, the mayor now views any collaboration with the force as a futile exercise including the recent partnership which saw the local authority roping in the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to curb touting.

“What then is the point of setting up joint taskforces between the City of Harare and the ZRP for the purpose of restoring sanity and order within the greater Harare when one of the key partners in the whole initiative is at the forefront of cloaking flagrantly illicit activity with legality?” Masunda said.

His remarks come after a local publication printed a picture of a ZRP highway patrol BMW chariot being washed in the backyard of the central business district using water stolen from a vandalised fire hydrant.

The joint operation Nguva Yakwana was launched last October and at least 500 offenders were arrested.

But it has turned out to be a temporary success following the return of rank marshals within the city centre barely four months after its launch.

Harare police spokesperson Tadious Chibanda appealed to the public to initiate the arrest of such people.

Masunda further predicted doom for the capital if police remains uncooperative.

“At this rate, Harare is heading for a collapse of law and order reminiscent of Chicago in the 1920s during Al Capone’s reign of terror,” said Masunda.