Online Reporter
Amos Mpofu
POLICE have raised the alarm over a shocking new trend where kombi drivers and some private motorists are deliberately hiding or altering their number plates to dodge the all-seeing eyes of CCTV cameras in cities across Zimbabwe.
National Police Spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the trend has become a “national scar,” warning that the culprits think they can break the law and vanish without a trace.
“Police have taken note of this trend where kombis and other vehicles are covering or altering their number plates to avoid being captured by CCTV or law enforcement. The trend is disturbing and poses a risk to people’s lives through incidents such as robberies or hit-and-runs. This is a national problem and is not confined to Bulawayo alone—it is happening across the country,” said Commissioner Nyathi.
He said the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is preparing to crack down hard on offenders, describing the practice as a direct threat to public safety.
“Bulawayo has an advantage because CCTV cameras are installed in and around key points of the city. So, even if drivers tamper with their number plates, they cannot easily get away after committing a traffic offence and remain untraceable.
However, the police have taken note of this growing trend nationwide and will take significant measures to put an end to it,” he said.
Observers say the trickery is now being used not only to avoid traffic fines but also to mask more serious crimes such as robberies and hit-and-runs.
Many vehicles caught on camera have been seen moving without plates or with fake and obscured numbers, some even covered with plastic, paper, or mud to beat the CCTV system.
Experts warn that number plates are a vehicle’s key form of identity, and tampering with them turns roads into danger zones where criminals can move freely without being tracked.
Police have since urged the public to report any suspicious vehicles or those driving around without visible plates, as the war on traffic offenders and law cheats tightens.
