HARARE City Council chief security officer Collen Tongowona is under fire for allegedly ordering the arrests and impounding of motor vehicles into a council compound without following proper procedures.
In a September 20 memorandum by acting head of public safety Martin Chimombe to acting chamber secretary Warren Chiwawa, Tongowona was accused of abusing his position for personal benefits.
“Tongowona undermined due process by causing arrests and impounding of motor vehicles into the secure compound (centre stores) without following laid down procedures. “Furthermore, it is not the duty of the chief security officer to act (in such a way),” Chimombe said.
He further said that Tongowona acted illegally and in contravention of his terms of contract.
“The chief security officer… Tongowona later launched an investigation and compiled an investigation report in which he appended his signature. “The report is with the human resources department. “The report targeted the arrest of chief traffic officer Chimombe for releasing vehicles ‘illegally’.
“However, the chief security office Tongowona has no authority whatsoever to impound vehicles…
“He is not a parking supervisor, he is not a chief traffic officer. The Urban Council Act is very clear in that the council may appoint in terms of that section parking supervisors to assist in the enforcement of any enactment to which the Municipal Traffic Laws Enforcement Act (Chapter 29:1) applies,” he said.
He also said that there was no receipt number which was recorded as proof that a ticket was issued.
“The arresting details are supposed to enter into the secure compound record book the number of the tickets that would have been issued upon arrest, but nothing was recorded.
“It is not the duty of patrolmen to effect arrests for vehicles that would have violated traffic laws. The duties of the patrolmen and that of the chief security officer are provided for in the Urban Councils Act Section 142 (a).
“Can … Tongowona demonstrate source of power and authority to usurp the functions of the chief traffic officer and or parking supervisor as enshrined in the Urban Councils Act Section 142 (b) and further refer to a specific council resolution or statutory instrument and cite the section and paragraph were impounding and arresting motor vehicles without issuing tickets first is provided for or allowed?”
He demanded a directive for Tongowona to appear before a disciplinary committee for abuse of office, after causing the impounding of vehicles without following the clamping and towing by-laws.
Contacted yesterday, Tongowona refused to give a comment.
“We are not allowed to comment, but I know Chimombe is fighting me,” he said.