I'm starting a one-man campaign to tackle crime while cleaning up the CBD...
WHILE being driven through Harare yesterday, I noticed a number of streets were marked with signs that noted "No entry 6pm to 6am".
"What's that about?" I asked my host .
"That's the area around State House," he said. "Comrade Mugabe is somewhat paranoid about security, which is why..." he pointed to the 2m brick fence topped with razor wire and video cameras, "...he has all of those things in place."
And what happened to violators, I wanted to know.
"Oh, they shoot them," he said quite matter-of-factly. "People soon learn not to drive that way at night."
That aside, Harare appears to be relatively unchanged since my last visit here some 13 years ago. The paranoia about urban crime that exists back home is completely absent, allowing one to drive around with windows open listening to the BBC World Service.
This has been a bad week. Benjamin Netanyahu's grace and diplomacy has resulted in 47 deaths so far on the West Bank and Gaza strip. De Kock claimed SA involvement in the assassination of Olaf Palme. New figures show tuberculosis kills more South Africans than Aids, homicides, and road accidents.
I can't do much about all of those, but I can come up with a plan to tackle crime in the CBD. And it will pay for itself.
The first part of my plan is an anti-gridlock law. Gridlock is the bane of urban traffic and occurs when selfish drivers try to cross an intersection when there is no room for more cars on the far side.
New York City has a $2000 (R9000) spot fine for gridlock at main intersections. Harare is more subdued with a $250 fine. It's an effective deterrent.
Since I never cause gridlock, I smugly propose a spot fine of R1000 plus confiscation of the vehicle until payment is made.
Next, I would impose fines for double-parking and violation of no stopping zones. Jaywalkers should pay cash fines of at least R20 or be held in custody until someone shows up with the money.
Money raised by these measures will go into a fund to pay for more police. When a driver pulls into a parking bay, instead of depositing money into a parking meter, he will pay a police officer who will issue him with a receipt.
Since parking on the street is more convenient than using a parkade, one should pay more for the privilege. I propose a sliding scale. R2 for 10 minutes. R10 for 30 minutes. R30 for an hour. Receipts will be checked when the driver leaves with the vehicle, reducing the possibility of theft.
With our minimum wage costs currently at about R8 per hour, each city block will quickly pay for two or three policemen. Patrol cars will collect money from these officers at regular intervals.
These officers will also ensure street traders operate according to regulations. Officers will be assigned to city blocks on a random basis each day to reduce the possibility of corruption.
Issuing of parking tickets will earn a commission payable to the officer, who should have a panic button on the two way radio to call for backup should an armed taxi driver or MP refuse to pay.
And since violations will be payable on the spot, the pressure on the courts to deal with traffic offences will be substantially reduced, allowing the courts to concentrate on more serious crimes.
In areas where parking is required after hours, police can look after cars on the same basis but at lower rates. Four cars at R2 per hour will pay for a police officer, and the restaurants and businesses that have been shutting down in the CBD can get back in business.
Smart businesses will subsidise the parking costs of their customers. With many excellent restaurant sites available cheaply in the CBD, this makes financial sense.
This plan will work. It creates employment. It pays for itself. It can be implemented by city councils without the need for national funding or intervention from the defence force.
And if there are enough of you out there who think it makes sense, and are willing to make a noise about it, our employees in City Hall can be made to listen.
If you agree or would like to make further suggestions, fax the SaturdayPaper on 308-2355, or write P.O. Box 47549, Greyville 4023, or email satpap@nn.independent.co.za or forever hold your peace.