admincountrywide under an operation code-named “Mapepa Akakwana”.
The operation, which was launched on June 1 and ends on July 2, is meant to bring sanity on the country’s roads, targeting commuter omnibus drivers and owners.
National traffic police spokesper-son Inspector Tigere Chigome yesterday said they had arrested 173 commuter omnibus owners, 295 drivers who had no medical endorsements and 321 others without defensive driving certificates.
“We have also arrested 55 drivers who are below the age of 25 for driving public service vehicles as this is against the law,” he said.
According to the Road Motor Transportation Act Chapter 13:10, public service vehicle drivers should be above 25-years-old.
Insp Chigome said they had noted that most drivers of passenger-carrying vehicles did not have the requisite papers.
He said some of the operators were employing such drivers, flouting the regulations.
“The situation calls for an operation to rid our roads of these drivers and prosecuting them, including the owners.
“We are going to arrest public service vehicle drivers without drivers’ licences, medical endorsements, defensive driving certificates and those below 25 years old, among others,” Insp Chigome said.
He said those arrested were going to be prosecuted while others would be fined, depending on the gravity of the offence.
Insp Chigome said all vehicles driven by such people would be impounded.
He urged owners to ensure their vehicles were roadworthy before putting them on the road.
“We are also going to carry out intensive campaigns countrywide educating the public on the provisions of the law in regards to the carriage of passengers and requirements of the Road Motor Transportation Act Chapter 13:10 and other traffic regulations,” Insp Chigome.
He said they were worried that the transport operators only wanted to make money at the expense of the safety of passengers.
“They only want to make money by employing people without the required documents, but all we are saying is that they should also look at the safety of the people first,” he said.
Police have been for the past few years conducting operations, targeting commuter omnibus drivers for the same offences and reckless driving.
Most of the drivers had been complying while others continue to be a menace especially in the city centre.
Some of them are behind a spate of road accidents in and around the city and flouting the country’s laws.
Other commuter omnibus drivers and conductors have also been arrested and prosecuted for kidnapping and running over police officers on duty while evading arrests.
Police have maintained that they will not hesitate to arrest anyone found on the wrong side of the law.
Online Reporter