Harare (New Ziana) -The Zimbabwe Republic Police and other traffic enforcement agencies will be out in full force during the festive season to curtail road accidents, a cabinet Minister said on Wednesday.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said the ZRP would be out in full force conducting patrols and roadblocks during the festive season.

“Robust measures have been put in place to ensure that our police officers together with key stakeholders such as the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, Vehicle Inspection Department and the
Zimbabwe National Road Administration are highly visible and mobile on our roads enforcing rules and regulations during the festive season,” he said.

Kazembe Kazembe said everyone had a duty to abide by the road traffic regulations which are to drive safely, avoiding speeding, overloading and driving roadworthy vehicles.

He said the ZRP would also heighten enforcement of COVID-19 regulations as the country was grappling with a second wave of the pandemic.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Biggie Matiza said the VID would be on roads to thoroughly inspect vehicles and drivers documents.

“The VID will, with immediate effect, be on our roads 24/7 stopping and inspecting vehicles randomly as well as thoroughly checking drivers’ documents for authenticity,” he said.

Matiza said the VID had been instructed to impound all unroadworthy vehicles.

He said with the support of ZRP and other government arms the VID was expected to do a perfect job of promoting and ensuring safety on the roads.

Matiza expressed concern that besides the notorious “mushikashika” vehicles (illegal private taxis), some individuals were also using private cars and unregistered commuter omnibuses to ferry people.

He urged the travelling public to use ZUPCO buses and adhere to all COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the World Health Organisation on sanitizing and social distancing among other measures to curb the pandemic

New Ziana