Over 100 000 arrests made for traffic offences

Harare, (New Ziana) – Police said on Saturday their on-going ‘Tame the Traffic Jungle’ operation had seen 103 710 arrests made countrywide for various offences as they try to bring sanity on the roads. The arrests include 2 365 vehicles offering transport services without route permits, while 31 073 others were of illegal pirate taxis
(mushikashika).

A total of 486 motorists have been arrested for reckless driving, while 7 703 have been nabbed for touting in the operation. Police said 1 888 vehicles have been impounded for moving on the roads without registration plates. The current police operation has left several commuters in large cities like Harare and Bulawayo stranded because of the grounding of scores of public commuter operators.

This has led to arbitrary transport fare hikes by the remaining operators who are cashing in on the crisis. Passengers Association of Zimbabwe National coordinator, Tafadzwa Goliati, however said traffic operations by law enforcers have largely failed to provide a solution to the county’s traffic problems. “What is lacking is a holistic strategy involving the full contribution of the public transport community. There is a need for inclusive
dialogue for sustainable solutions between public transporters and law enforcement agents, because as it stands, public operators perceive police as their enemies,” he said.

“The operation is a noble idea aimed at bringing sanity to the roads, but it also has negative effects on the ordinary citizens,” he said.

New Ziana