Online Reporter
Peter Matika
Herald Reporter
POLICE are gearing for one of the most extensive nationwide security and traffic enforcement campaigns never seen in recent years as the festive season approaches.
With an anticipated surge in both traffic movement and criminal activity, authorities are committed to ensuring public safety and maintaining order during this bustling time.
The sweeping, high-visibility blitz is specifically engineered to suppress skyrocketing crime rates, drastically curb catastrophic road carnage, and maintain civil stability over a period traditionally marked by heightened public travel and social disruption.
The operation signals a zero-tolerance approach to lawlessness, with thousands of officers set to saturate highways, urban centres, and critical points across the nation.
The multi-pronged initiative will involve specialised units drawn from criminal investigations, traffic policing, canine sections, anti-stock theft teams, and border control and intelligence operatives.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, speaking during a media briefing in Bulawayo on Wednesday, said officers will be deployed to urban centres, highways, rural communities and border areas, with operations set to intensify as December approaches.
Comm Nyathi said the police were determined to ensure citizens enjoyed a peaceful, orderly and safe Christmas and New Year period.
“We have entered a critical phase of our festive season preparations. Police are fully geared to protect life and property. Our operations target armed robberies, drug trafficking, smuggling, stock theft, gender-based violence and all forms of criminality that tend to spike during this period.”
The operation, which will run until early January, will also tackle the rise in fatal road traffic accidents, many caused by speeding, drunken driving and poorly maintained vehicles.
“On the roads, we are clamping down on unroadworthy vehicles, pirate taxis, overloaded buses and reckless drivers. We will have sobriety checkpoints, highway patrols and surveillance teams working full-time. The law will be enforced without fear or favour.”
“We cannot allow vehicles that are mobile death traps to operate. Some of the accidents we record are a direct result of negligence and disregard for basic safety standards,” Comm Nyathi said.
He noted that police, working with other law enforcement agencies, are also concerned about the surge in drug-related crimes, unlawful entry and theft, smash-and-grabs and robberies targeting individuals withdrawing large sums of money for holiday preparations.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
“To strengthen the operation, police are working closely with neighbourhood watch committees, transport associations, traditional leaders and community policing forums. Communities must actively report suspicious individuals, movements or behaviour.”
Commissioner Nyathi also issued a stern warning to criminals who violently engage and kill police officers on duty.
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