adminLethokuhle Moyo Court Reporter
THE Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe and the police have launched an operation targeting unregistered driving schools in Bulawayo as a way of reducing accidents on the country’s roads. The operation, which started on Wednesday and is codenamed ‘Sesikubonile’ (we have seen you), has seen 16 cars being impounded. Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe spokesperson, Ernest Muchena said the council together with the police are exposing unregistered driving schools.
“We want to safeguard the quality of training to learners. Some people just get driver’s licences and start teaching other people to drive. One can’t just wake up and start teaching other people to drive because they have a licence,” he said.
“We’re targeting unregistered driving schools and so far we’re holding 16 vehicles which are going to be used as exhibits in court.”
Muchena said 14 driving schools whose 16 vehicles have been impounded are: African Jet, Series, Penny, True, Your, Progressive, High Class, Perfect Form, Success, Island, DKS, Reality, True Ways, Blue Island, Porchem and L Chiyangwa. Bulawayo police provincial spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo could not be reached for comment. Instructors who spoke to The Chronicle on condition of anonymity said they were told that some of the driving schools would be shut down depending on the offence they are facing. Some said their vehicles had been impounded even though their papers were in order.
They said they did not have any problem with being taken to court, but wanted their vehicles to be released.
“We’ve heard that some of the driving schools are going to be closed down. If it’s true then it’s a very big punishment for such an offence. They’re supposed to make us pay a fine and give us a chance to put our things in order,” said an instructor.
“All the people here face different offences and some of us don’t even know why we’re here because we’ve the proper papers. We’re just waiting for a letter for our cars to be released otherwise we’ve lost good money”.
Online Reporter