ARMED security agents manning an anti-smuggling roadblock at Bubi, about 80km outside Beitbridge, were forced to run for dear life as angry passengers resisted being returned to the border post for reassessment of duty on imported goods.Anti-smuggling units are on the highways leading from the country’s border posts to check on smugglers.There have been reports of harassment of travellers by criminals as well as anti-smuggling units.Armed with information that criminals and anti-smuggling units were posing as Zacc officials, passengers resisted orders to be driven back to the border post.Passengers threatened the armed men, who fled for dear life.Said a witness: “Police and soldiers fled as the women travellers returning from shopping trips threatened to pelt them with stones. “More than 100 women threatened running over the security details in unprecedented scenes.”Police were not readily available for comment.On Wednesday, Zacc expressed frustration over reports of the travelling public refusing to be searched at roadblocks in its anti-corruption drive.Zacc pleaded with motorists, transporters and the travelling public to co-operate with law enforcement agents conducting searches at roadblocks.“Zacc notes with concern that following the anti-corruption awareness campaign in Beitbridge, some members of the public, motorists and transporters are resisting searches at roadblocks. “We urge the public to comply with lawful instructions from police officers, whether they are in uniform or not,” Zacc spokesperson Simiso Mlevu said in a statement.“Zacc is committed to combating corruption and interagency cooperation is important in the execution of this mandate. “When the public resists lawful enforcement procedures, it weakens the overall effectiveness of national anti-corruption efforts.”
