adminWELL, I received several calls from motorists who gave their input regarding last week’s subject on roadblocks mounted by the police on the roads. Many felt that I was spot on when I said traffic cops were mounting blocks at dangerous spots. I checked whether things had changed following the publication of the article last week, but it seems it is the same old story.
They are still controlling traffic at dangerous spots. This week, I will name the spots so that at least the powers- that-be will know and understand what I am talking about.
The block that is usually mounted on top of the Christmas Pass curves is a dangerous one. When you come into Mutare using the Mutare-Harare highway you will bump into this block that has no sign which shows that there are cops ahead.
This block is situated on a blind curve. It is a different situation from those travelling out of the city because the road stretch that connects to the top of the Christmas Pass curves is a little straight compared to when one is coming into the city. What I have noticed is that those who stop there do so at their own convenience.
At times blocks are mounted at the Fern Valley Turn-off. This is a dangerous spot where many accidents have occurred in the past. It does not matter whether you are travelling out of Mutare or coming into the city because the danger posed is the same.
You hardly see ahead when cascading those curves and it becomes more difficult if there are traffic cops on the road.
Recently, the police have resorted to mounting a block near the Mutare Rural Camp entrance. This is another dangerous spot that has resulted in confusion and at times carnages.
When you travel to Sakubva Musika from the city centre you risk ramming into the police because as soon as you drive to the summit of that uphill ascend you see traffic officers signaling you to stop.
With the bad state of the road on that stretch, it is difficult to stop as instructed.
This is some sort of ambush. More importantly, that part of the road is a busy one and in most cases traffic jams do occur when ever some vehicles are instructed to pull of f the road. When that happens during peak hours, traffic flow will be greatly impeded.
The other roadblock is being mounted at Jelf Road Turn-Off near Golden Peacock Hotel. A traffic officer was seriously injured when he was trapped under an Isuzu pick-up in an accident involving three vehicles at the spot.
Drivers coming from Dangamvura are the most affected as they have to grapple with the rising sun rays as well as keeping a watchful eye on the traffic cops who will be manning this roadblock.
At one instance, highway traffic police officers stopped vehicles at the Fly Over as you get out of the CBD towards Sakubva high-density suburb. It was a disaster.
As motorists we have nothing to hide and run away from the police because it is the duty of traffic police officers to ensure that we travel safely.
In as much as we do not want to take sides with those who break traffic regulations and endanger the lives of many, we are appealing to the police to mount those blocks, as many as they see necessary, at spots that are safe to do so.
As motorists we are also worried with the traffic jam at Sakubva Swimming Pool during peak hours.
This usually happens right in-front of traffic officers manning a roadblock at Red Cross about 100 metres from the place. With kombi drivers at their usual madness-best, the road is impassable and many accidents have been recorded there.
It seems the traffic cops have mastered the art of asking monotonous questions like asking someone to produce a driver’s license.
The same cop asks you the same question every time you pass through that roadblock.
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