Police and soldiers beat and arrest commuter drivers over fares

By Violet Gonda
31 August 2007

The government sponsored price war against businesses intensified in Harare this week with the main targets being transport operators. Scores of commuter drivers were arrested during a blitz that started on Wednesday. The security forces are also accused of beating up the drivers and forcing many operators to ground their fleet because of the crippling price cuts.

Operators are currently charging between Z$40 000 to Z$50 000 a trip in Harare, depending on the distance and the availability of fuel, but they are being ordered to reduce their fares to between Z$10 000 and Z$15 000.

Eyewitnesses say many people are being left stranded as a result of the transport problems. Clever Kafero, a Hatcliffe resident in Harare North, said the crisis is fast getting out of control. He said on Wednesday commuter drivers attacked a soldier in Hatcliffe but the soldier returned the following day with a group of other soldiers and police officers to the area to “deal” with the drivers.

Kafero said the police and soldiers have embarked on an intensive operation to force the operators to reduce their prices. Unconfirmed reports say more than 100 drivers and some innocent commuters were arrested at different bus ranks in Harare on Friday. Kafero said many people who use commuter buses from suburbs like Avondale, Greencroft, Kuwadzana, Mbare and Southerton were left stranded because of the disturbance.
Critics say the security forces are fast becoming a law unto themselves. The Zimbabwe Independent reports that Esigodini in Matabeleland South resembled a war zone on Tuesday when soldiers went on a rampage, breaking into shops and looting goods worth more than Z$60 million before severely assaulting newly resettled farmers. According to the newspaper 70 uniformed soldiers caused terror at the Shopping Centre in revenge after colleagues were beaten during a brawl with villagers at a beer drinking spot in the area.