Did a whole bunch of errands today and dodged police road blocks to get across town. Found a teacher's book for ZIMSEC English with the listening comprehension texts. Then went to a friend's parents' house to pick up Body Shop products (so excited!!) and I was allowed to photograph the set of a scene from the movie, The Power of One, which is in their back yard. Sold some shoe sole implants I had bought for plantar fasciitis that I never used in the end as it went away. Did the deal outside Bon Marche. Then headed to school to collect marking.
All was going wonderfully well until I ventured to Avondale shopping centre, with the one and only thing on my to do list being to drop off stuff for recycling. It literally took a minute. When I got to the bins this random guy wondered up and wanted to know why I was dumping my "rubbish" there. I had cans and plastic bottles. Sensing he wanted to make trouble I studiously ignored him and tried to empty my sack of bottles as quickly as possible. Returning to my car though I discovered my wheel had been clamped. Fuming I asked the person sitting in the car next to mine if they had seen who did it. They said I should ask the security guard. The security guard sauntered over and said ah, but I had parked on a yellow line. The marking in the car park was not really visible to show it was supposed to be yellow. He then said I would have to speak to the manager. This unfortunately turned out to be the man who had pestered me at the recycling bins. He nonchalantly said well I would have to go to the Milton Park police station wouldn't I and pay a $1000 fine.
I was prepared to pay this to be able to get home but said I couldn't get to the jolly police station if my car was clamped. The manager shrugged and said well then he'd have to call the local policeman in the shed by Nandos. Well here I totally lucked out, the policeman who came over turned out to be a thoroughly decent gentleman of a member of ZRP (we need more of him in our lives in Zimbabwe). He politely asked me why I had parked where I had parked and I explained I just wanted to drop off recycling and I hadn't seen the nearly obliterated road marking and realised it was a yellow line. He said he would have to escort me in my car to Milton Park police station. I said I wasn't comfortable having a stranger in my car with COVID and said could he not write up a docket and I promised I would go and pay. He didn't harass me, intimidate me or belabour the point of my offence. He simply said that criminals tend to park in yellow bays so they can easily slip out and follow cars they want to hijack and the police therefore have to ensure these bays are kept free. He said it in the most straightforward, down to earth manner and said if I could please tell my friends who shop in Avondale this (I promised him I would and have now done so). He then let me go!
There are honourable officers in ZRP!
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