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also seen police impound at least 180 vehicles and they will only be released when they have the required documents.
The Vehicle Inspection Department will have to check some of the vehicles.
According to the police, the operation launched on Thursday will continue until there is sanity on the roads. Acting National Traffic police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Luckmore Chakanza yesterday said police were targeting private vehicles used to ferry passengers, buses and commuter omnibuses.
He said of the 4 802 arrests, 2 607 were private vehicles used to ferry passengers, 1 792 were public service vehicles, 104 unregistered vehicles, 58 for driving while using cellphones and two for drunken driving.
“We have noticed that a number of non-passenger carrying vehicles had taken over the operations of public service vehicles.
“Most of these vehicles do not conform to the requirements of the legislation governing public service vehicles and carriage of passengers,” Asst Insp Chakanza said.
He said some of these vehicles had contributed to an upsurge in road accidents due to overloading and speeding in a bid to meet targets given by the owners.
Asst Insp Chakanza said others were used in a spate of robberies along Zimbabwe’s highways where passengers were mostly robbed after getting lifts from criminals.
The vehicles include Mazda Demios, Toyota Ipsums, Toyota Spacios, Toyota Raums, Mitsubishi Chariots, Toyota Gaias and Toyota Fun Cargos among others.
Most of them are known for plying several routes outside the city centre while others operate along the highways.
The unregistered vehicles are believed to be used in committing crimes while others were involved in accidents and the drivers sped off.
The vehicles, which were parked at police stations and VID, will only be released after the owners obtain the required documents.
The owners must bring registration number plates while others will pay fines before getting their vehicles back. Most of the vehicles were impounded at roadblocks and during motorised patrols.
Last month, the Traffic Police launched an operation code-named “Teverai Mutemo” aimed at targeting private vehicles ferrying passengers along the country’s major highways.
Police were heavily deployed along the highways to impound such vehicles. Most of these vehicles are plying long distances without the required documents.
In April, police impounded 600 unregistered and unroadworthy vehicles countrywide in two weeks to curb criminal activities and bring sanity on the roads.
Last year, police launched “Operation Siirai mabhazi” targeting pirate taxis and lorries ferrying passengers.
Such cars were not insured to carry passengers and of late most accidents recorded involved them.
Most of the people operating taxis are former foreign currency dealers who were made redundant following the introduction of the use of multiple currencies in February 2009.
Most operate on the country’s major highways while others ply the City/Avondale-Avenues-Parirenyatwa route.
Online Reporter