HARARE
–
A
rank
marshal
who
seized
control
of
a
loading
bay
in
Harare’s
busy
Market
Square
bus
terminus
before
collecting
unsanctioned
daily
loading
fees
from
a
bus
operator
running
into
a
cumulative
US$5,000
over
19
months,
has
been
dragged
to
court
charged
with
extortion.
The
suspect
is
Cuthbert
Chamwakaona,
aged
39.
Chamwakaona
appeared
before
Harare
magistrate
Appolonia
Marutya
who
granted
him
US$100
bail.
According
to
prosecutors,
“from
September
2022
to
date
and
at
Market
Square
Rank,
the
complainant
Jephat
Motsi,
a
driver
started
operating
at
that
site
plying
Buririro
4
and
5
driving
a
commuter
omnibus
GHACO
fleet
number
285.”
Chamwakaona,
added
the
state,
acting
in
connivance
with
one
Maricho
who
is
still
at
large
and
Nelson
Makonese,
who
is
already
on
remand,
declared
that
they
were
owners
of
the
rank.
It
is
alleged
that
the
trio
would
exert
illegitimate
pressure
on
Motsi
by
demanding
US$2
per
every
trip.
They
would
declare
he
would
not
ferry
passengers
unless
they
were
paid
the
monies
they
demanded.
Motsi
operated
at
the
rank
for
a
continuous
period
of
19
months.
Every
month,
it
is
further
alleged,
he
worked
for
an
average
of
26
days.
Per
day
he
had
an
average
of
five
trips
hence
he
lost
a
total
of
US$4,940.
Motsi,
through
his
association
Greater
Harare
Association
of
Commuter
Omnibus
Operators
(GHACO),
filed
a
police
report,
leading
to
the
arrest
of
the
Makonese
and
Chamwakaona.
Harare
bus
termini
are
full
of
youths
who
terrorise
operators
and
commuters
alike
through
demanding
payments
for
use
of
the
public
facility.
All
the
money
collected
goes
into
individuals’
pockets
with
local
authorities
not
benefitting
from
the
illicit
levies.
It
has
been
difficult
for
the
police
and
opposition
led
councils
to
drive
the
youths
out
of
the
facilities
as
they
use
their
support
for
the
ruling
Zanu
PF
party
as
shields.