By Lloyd Takawira
The rising cases of robberies and murder along major highways should invoke a concerted action from government and law enforcement agencies, Passenger Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has said.
Over the months, the country has witnessed a surge in the number of robberies especially along major highways. The latest involved cross boarder traders aboard a Boundary Express Bus company enroute to the country’s boarder town of Beitbridge. The bus was hijacked by a six-member armed gang hijacked who assaulted and robbed of cash and other valuables after commandeering the driver to pull off the road.
In an interview with Bustop TV News, Passenger Association Zimbabwe national coordinator, Tafadzwa Goliati said police must intensify night patrols along major highways.
Goliati added that it is the duty of law enforcement agencies to protect passengers from menacing criminals who have become a danger to the country .
“Our police force must urgently beef up it’s security especially along major highways. Our government should make sure that our police is adequately resourced in order to conduct it’s duties” .
Goliati further said that police should intensify night patrols since most of the robberies and murder cases are happening during the night.
“We are appealing for the Zimbabwe Republic Police to conduct night patrols, like what happens in other countries. We have also observed that whenever there are accidents, the police are always late to arrive at the scene because they do not have enough cars,” he said.
He also blamed some murder cases on government’s failure to provide enough transport to ferry passengers to and from work resulting in them getting to their home late .
“Some passengers are falling victims to robbers as they go home from work because they would have failed to get transport in time. As passengers we are against the ZUPCO monopoly because ZUPCO buses have failed to meet the demand . If you can see the hoards of people who are always in bus ranks you will understand what I’m talking about.
“As PAZ we are going to petition parliament over the plight of passengers . It seems our parliamentarians are sleeping on duty. We need those issues to be discussed in parliament”
