Police threats to transport operators dismissed as propaganda
By Lance Guma
27 November 2006

Transport operators hiked their fares by 60 percent over the weekend citing the increasing cost of fuel and spare parts. With some economic analysts already calculating that two of the three zeroes slashed by the Reserve Bank have already sneaked back into the currency via inflation, the latest increases provide ample evidence Gideon Gono’s measures are falling flat on their face. Statements by police that they will set up roadblocks to arrest transport operators who have hiked their fares without government approval have been dismissed as cheap propaganda meant to vilify commuter operators and make government look sensitive to the plight of ordinary citizens.

Lionel Saungweme reports that it’s business as usual in Bulawayo with the exception of a few token arrests by the police who are impounding vehicles belonging to some operators. But as Saungweme explains the rhetoric never lasts for more than a week. ‘Every time fare increases are effected unilaterally by the operators, government is quick to issue these threats while trying to please the travelling public. As soon as the week passes, all is forgotten and it’s business as usual with the new fares being allowed to pass. Its like a game they play with people,’ he explained.
Police spokesman Oliver Mandipaka told the Zimonline news site that the transport operators would be arrested for becoming, ‘a law unto themselves,’ by increasing fares without approval from the relevant ministry. The same website quoted the spokesman of the Bulawayo Public Transporters Association, Strike Ndlovu as saying, ‘There is not much we can do because we have to raise fares in order to be able to source fuel and spare parts, both of which are also in short supply in the country.” Critics say the police threats highlight the level of desperation in Mugabe’s regime trying to arrest run away inflation caused by corruption and mismanagement of the economy.
Letter from America: An Open Letter to Robert Gabriel Mugabe President, ZANU-PF
By Dr. Stan Mukasa
November 27, 2006

In today’s Letter from America Dr. Stan Mukasa writes an open no-holds-bared letter to Mugabe urging him to seek mental and spiritual counseling for a possible redemption for his soul, as the 83-year-old geriatric dictator approaches the inevitable political and physical exit doors from this world.
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