Douglas Mahiya Osungwa neKanzuruCity Council traffic officers on Thursday clamped a vehicle belonging to Zanu PF national secretary for War Veterans Affairs, Douglas Mahiya, in central Harare for dangerous parking, a move that has drawn attention amid public anger over the selective application of traffic laws.
In an unusual show of municipal assertiveness, Mahiya, a prominent ruling party figure known for his close ties to top government officials, was seen engaging with uniformed Harare municipal officers after they clamped his luxury SUV outside The Suits World store.
Witnesses say he appeared stunned as officers from the notorious Harare traffic enforcement unit affixed the yellow clamp to his front wheel.
The Harare City Council’s municipal police are infamous for clamping vehicles even for minor or ambiguous violations and charging exorbitant release fines, often upwards of US$50.
Motorists have long decried the practice as extortionate, accusing the council of operating more like a profit-seeking enforcement mafia than a public service.
However, the clamping of Mahiya’s vehicle has stirred surprise, given the well-documented culture of impunity enjoyed by Zanu PF elites who routinely flout road rules with no consequences.
In many cases, ruling party and government officials are known to drive in restricted zones, park illegally, and evade police checks.
This morning, Zanu PF's Cde Douglas Mahiya had his car clamped by Harare City Council traffic officers for a parking vioIation.
