A local motorist has petitioned the High Court for an order declaring the practice of Harare Municipal police impounding motor vehicles for alleged violations of city traffic laws to be unlawful.
Reason Mupanga of Seke contends that the city traffic enforcement authorities’ unpopular practice of forcing motorists to pay fines amounted to extortion.
Mupanga claims his car was impounded earlier this year despite the fact that he had committed no crime.
He only got the car back after paying a $68 fine.
In court documents gleaned by this publication, Mupanga claims his car was seized after he had refused to pay a bribe.
“The applicant intends to apply to the High Court of Zimbabwe sitting at Harare for a review of the Form of Notice issued by the city of Harare in terms of the Municipal Traffic Laws Enforcement Act (Chapter 29:10) and Harare (Clamping and Tow-Away) By-Laws, Statutory Instrument 104 of 2005; and the practice of impounding a motor vehicle in order to force the owner to pay a penalty.
“The Form of Notice…does not comply with the provisions of section 4 of the Municipal Traffic Laws Enforcement Act [Chapter 29:10].