Tanzanian police promise cutback in bribery-infested checkpoints

The promise by the Tanzanian Police Force that the number of checkpoints on major roads will be drastically reduced is good news indeed to motorists and other road users, reports allAfrica. The importance of having police checkpoints along major roads cannot be overemphasised, but these become an inconvenience when crooked officers turn them into bribe collection points, the report said. For instance, it asked, why should there be over ten checkpoints along the 100-kilometre Dar es Salaam-Chalinze highway? The Police Force may not be ready to admit it, but the fact remains that the vast majority of roadblocks and checkpoints on our highways are there for purposes other than enforcing the law.Most of these checkpoints are on relatively quiet stretches of highways where corrupt police officers demand and receive bribes without having to worry about prying eyes. The difference between Tanzania and other countries is that many police checkpoints are not permanently set up at specific sites. Corrupt police officers moving around in vehicles randomly establish roadblocks where it best suits them. They then move on to another hunting ground after they are satisfied that they have collected enough pickings at that particular point. Fewer checkpoints that will be there strictly to enforce the law will be an important victory in the struggle against corruption.