Trucks impounded

Herald Reporter
MORE than 163 heavy trucks have been impounded in Harare for violating city by-laws as council intensified the clampdown on heavy duty vehicles entering and parking in residential areas. The city’s chief traffic officer Mr Campion Chishava said the number of freight trucks impounded had increased to 160 owing largely to culprits that continue to defy by-laws, two weeks after the municipal police launched the operation. Culprits are still defying the city by-laws and we continue to impound more trucks,” he said. “We want to restore sanity on our roads and infrastructure in residential areas. We have to put an end to this.”

Most truck drivers are not aware of the city by-laws while others are aware but continue to use residential areas as short cuts. Heavy vehicles are barred from entering residential areas as roads in the suburbs are not designed for such weights.

The blitz is forcing many truck drivers to comply. “Since we carried out this exercise we have noticed that the number of heavy vehicles we are impounding per day is decreasing as truck drivers fear the huge fines we are imposing on them, Mr Chishava said.

Heavy trucks have destroyed roads and infrastructure such as telephone and electricity lines. Others say the noise and vibrations from trucks has an effect on housing properties.