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Crime Reporter
The impounding by police of over 7 000 vehicles during this week’s operation to “Tame the Traffic Jungle”, after owners or drivers broke registration, licensing, customs, traffic and parking laws, has seen a reaction by the motorists and transport operators concerned, who are now worried about the delays in getting their vehicles back as they sort out the paperwork and the fines.
The operation has so far seen more than 7 000 vehicles being impounded after police and other key stakeholders this week launched an operation targeting vehicles driven in breach of the law, including unregistered and unlicensed vehicles, pirate taxis and pirate kombis, and drivers committing traffic, driving and parking offences as authorities step up efforts to ensure compliance with road laws.
Flouting laws had become routine, particularly in urban areas and the blitz was launched to ensure vehicle owners and drivers comply with the requirements of the full range of laws.
Backing the police are the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, Vehicle Examination Department, the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe National Road Administration, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, and city and town councils.
Motorists and operators wanting their vehicles back have to obtain all the required vehicle documents to be able to be cleared by the Vehicle Theft Squad and the Vehicle Inspectorate Department, among others, including Zimra.
Then the motorist or owner has to pay the deposit fines for all the offences they were facing.
As motorists and vehicle owners run around, they are complaining about delays, and the fact that Harare City Council charges storage fees for the impounded vehicles.
But the majority who were obeying the laws and had their vehicles properly licensed and, if public transport operators, had the proper permissions feel that those whose vehicles were impounded have no one to blame, but themselves.
In an interview Greater Harare Association of Commuter Operators (GHACO) chairman Mr Ngoni Katsvairo applauded the police for conducting the operation, saying this will ensure that both operators and motorists will have the required documents to be on the roads.
GHACO is one of the two major associations that group kombi operators and make sure all members are up-to-date on the paperwork.
“However, there are some challenges that we are facing as operators that need to be addressed. The challenges is that of the processes being conducted by law enforcement agents after vehicles have been impounded,” said Mr Katsvairo.
“They should look into consideration to separate this process on those with required documents and those without. I am of the view that operators with the required documents should only be allowed to pay deposit fines of the offences they would have been arrested for rather than going through the whole process.”
Mr Katsvairo said kombi drivers who also violate traffic rules and regulations should be arrested and then police avoid impounding the vehicle.
“We have noted that in most cases they arrest the driver and impound the vehicle, but all we are saying the driver should only face the consequences of his actions,” he said.
The Herald also conducted a survey in and around the city yesterday and found out that several vehicles and kombis that had been impounded were parked at police stations and city council premises.
A kombi driver Mr Peter Mukotekwa said his vehicle had been impounded since it did not have required documents on the roads.
“I am still trying to make efforts to ensure that my vehicle is back on the road after I have followed all the normal procedures,” he said. “Although the process seems to be hectic I will make sure that I will follow it since there is no other way.”
A motorist, Mr Fungai Mandisodza, said his Toyota Hilux double cab was impounded by detectives after they discovered that it was not properly registered.
“I recently bought this vehicle from another person who was selling it not knowing that it was not properly registered,” he said. “I am now making efforts to trace him so that we properly register it.”
Another motorist, Ms Sihle Kamangira, whose vehicle did not have registration number plates said she was now making efforts to register the vehicle. Mr Libon Maphosa said his truck had been impounded after it was not registered with Zinara.
Meanwhile, some transport operators in and around the city have also hiked their fares taking advantage of the operation.
The operators are alleging that they were risking themselves to drive their vehicles, yet they were being targeted by the police operation. Passengers have since expressed concern over such behaviour by these operators.
Passenger Association of Zimbabwe national president Mr Tafadzwa Goliati said they were saddened by the development.
“We are saddened by the high and unfair fares as high as US$2,50 for Chitungwiza and US$2 for Mabvuku, yesterday,” he said. “We are vigorously engaging the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, ZRP and the operators to correct this situation.”
Police yesterday said over 7 000 vehicles, buses, commuter omnibuses and pirate taxis have been impounded during this ongoing operation to curb lawlessness on the roads, especially in major cities where drivers are violating road rules and regulations with some driving against oncoming traffic.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the operation code named ‘Tame the Jungle Traffic’ was continuing until there was compliance.
“The ZRP reports that a total of 7 075 arrests have been effected during the on-going operation, “Tame the Traffic Jungle”. 3 308 vehicles have been impounded for moving on the country’s roads with defects, while 223 vehicles have also been impounded for moving on the roads with no registration plates.
“The ZRP reiterates that this operation is not focusing on Harare only but in all the country’s provinces,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police launched the operation in all the country’s provinces with effect from Tuesday this week.
This operation has been necessitated by the lawlessness on the roads, especially in major cities and towns where some drivers are openly causing chaos and congestion by driving the wrong way down one-way roads in the face of oncoming traffic, through red robots and reckless lane violation.
Police were also concerned with the reckless conduct by pirate vehicles, mushikashika and some registered kombis who are carrying passengers from undesignated points, while contravening the country’s laws with impunity.
Online Reporter