Moyo tells capital’s fathers to employ more traffic officers

Harare (New Ziana)-Harare City Council should employ 868 new traffic officers to cope with congestion in the capital, Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo said on Wednesday.

According to the Central Vehicle Registry, the volume of traffic on Harare roads has increased over the years to about 1.5 million vehicles plying the Central Business District.

The road infrastructure combined with high volume of traffic results in massive congestion on a daily basis.

Officially launching the Harare Municipal officers training, Moyo said Government is aware that the local authority has few traffic officers compared to the increasing number of vehicles on the roads.

He said there was urgent need for the local authority to increase its traffic manpower levels in order to deal with congestion.

“We have approved the increase of establishment for traffic enforcement from the current 271 to 1 139 positions,” he said.

He said traffic enforcement needs to be resourced in terms of tow vehicles, motorcycles and heavy duty vehicles.

“The Ministry has seen it fit to disburse $55 million towards resource mobilisation. The traffic enforcement needs to be capacitated further in the form of training,” said Moyo.

Moyo noted with concern that despite the ban on commuter omnibuses not franchised to ZUPCP, the use of unregistered motor vehicles and pirate taxis in the city had increased.

“Of concern also are the unregistered motor vehicles which continue to ferry passengers in and out of Harare’s Central Business District using undesignated bus stops,” he said.

A joint operation conducted by the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Harare City Council recently saw the impounding of 3 209 vehicles.

Speaking at the same event, acting Harare Town Clerk Engineer Phakamile Moyo said: “We are grateful that your Ministry agreed to increase the establishment of traffic officers from 271 to 1 139 given our added responsibilities.”

New Ziana