News / Local
Cops defend increase in Bulawayo roadblocks
20 Oct 2013 at 06:07hrs | Views
BULAWAYO police spokesperson inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo has said roadblocks which have intensified in the city in recent weeks are aimed at ensuring the public's safety and motorists should bear with them.
Police have mounted roadblocks in virtually every road leading into the city centre which has seen some motorists and residents complaining of major inconveniences when vehicles are stopped and searched.
But Moyo said the measures are for the good of the public to ensure that they were not unnecessarily endangered.
"We want to reduce the number of accidents and the unnecessary loss of lives through curbing unqualified drivers; making sure that every driver has a licence and checking the road worthiness of vehicles," Moyo said.
Moyo said it is the police's duty to ensure that all vehicles are registered, roadworthy and display licence discs.
However, some city residents expressed mixed feelings about the increased policing.
"We are grateful to the police because we are tired of the unending accidents in the city due to unlicensed drivers.
"These roadblocks will leave the roads with qualified drivers only," Sihle Mkhwananzi of Entumbane said.
She said increased police presence on the roads will go a long way in ensuring safety of commuters.
A Mpopoma resident Gift Hove said he was impressed by the traffic police that want the best for the city by enforcing traffic rules.
But some residents felt the increase of roadblocks is a highly unnecessary exercise.
"The roadblocks are really frustrating because they delay us from getting to work on time," Morningside motorist Vusumuzi Dewa said.
"Some of our cars have no problems, but we still get inconvenienced by the roadblocks that are mounted in almost every main road."
Pardon Hlongwane, an Emganwini commuter kombi driver said the roadblocks disadvantage them as drivers because they spent the entire day evading the cops and this usually resulted in accidents.
Moyo, however, defended the increased visibility saying they have a ballooning wanted persons list of those who have committed various crimes and roadblocks help cops apprehend criminals as well as reduce crime.
Police have mounted roadblocks in virtually every road leading into the city centre which has seen some motorists and residents complaining of major inconveniences when vehicles are stopped and searched.
But Moyo said the measures are for the good of the public to ensure that they were not unnecessarily endangered.
"We want to reduce the number of accidents and the unnecessary loss of lives through curbing unqualified drivers; making sure that every driver has a licence and checking the road worthiness of vehicles," Moyo said.
Moyo said it is the police's duty to ensure that all vehicles are registered, roadworthy and display licence discs.
However, some city residents expressed mixed feelings about the increased policing.
"We are grateful to the police because we are tired of the unending accidents in the city due to unlicensed drivers.
She said increased police presence on the roads will go a long way in ensuring safety of commuters.
A Mpopoma resident Gift Hove said he was impressed by the traffic police that want the best for the city by enforcing traffic rules.
But some residents felt the increase of roadblocks is a highly unnecessary exercise.
"The roadblocks are really frustrating because they delay us from getting to work on time," Morningside motorist Vusumuzi Dewa said.
"Some of our cars have no problems, but we still get inconvenienced by the roadblocks that are mounted in almost every main road."
Pardon Hlongwane, an Emganwini commuter kombi driver said the roadblocks disadvantage them as drivers because they spent the entire day evading the cops and this usually resulted in accidents.
Moyo, however, defended the increased visibility saying they have a ballooning wanted persons list of those who have committed various crimes and roadblocks help cops apprehend criminals as well as reduce crime.
Source - SouthernEye
