I once was also approached by the so called police officers at a shopping mall in Harare. The licence disc of my vehicle had expired but was in the grace period. I was sitting in the car waiting for my 2 kids who had gone into the shop. The so called police officers were coming from the shop approaching my car. I overheard one of the officers saying to his partner that “taona mota yekuendesa kukamba” ” we have found a car to take us the police camp” I did not know they meant my car . Apparently my car is an old model from the ’80s, being a lady as well, they took for granted they would use me for a ride. On approaching my parked car, they went round the car, and then came to my window and said that I was displaying an expired licence disc. I responded to say that it wasn’t only to realize that the licence was 2 days post date of expiry and pleaded with them that it was just 2 days and that there is a grace period. They asked for my drivers licence….I lied that I had left it home as well as my ID. They said I should take them to the police station to pay fine as they had no ticket book. I insisted that I could not take them to the police station as I did not have enough fuel. Then they insisted on my licence or ID. I said to them if they want my driver’s licence, I will take them to my home taht was less than 4km from this shopping mall, get my driver’s licence give it to them and they will have to find their own means of transport to the police station since they really wanted the driver’s licence. The officers started shouting at me that I was an impossible woman. On that, I asked for their names and force numbers and I took out a pen and paper. They then said I really was impossible and that I would not get out of the shopping mall gate as they will assign the officer there not to allow me out and they took off. I just laughed because the gate is manned by a private security company who had nothing to do with our so called state policemen. I just thought to myself how they thought I was that daft to be threatened with refusal by the security guard to let me pass through the gate within my neighbourhood. When I left the mall after my kids came back, I passed through the gate and I saw the 2 officers waiting for kombis.

Of cause the cops “vari kushungurudza” or actually abusing the public and I am one of them suffering in “silence”. What should we do as civil society to overcome this besides; sitting at blocks, refusing with our car keys, refusing to give them our drivers’ licences, paying bribes, fines etc…? Can’t the civil society raise its own voice? Can’t the civil society put its heads together, we cannot be cry babies with no action? CRY BABIES NO…LETS ACT!!!!