Unlicensed drivers denied option to pay fine

POLICE in Bulawayo are cracking the whip on drivers who flout traffic rules, with those found driving without a licence being denied the option of paying a fine.

The development comes against the backdrop of increased traffic accidents and fatalities on the city's roads for the nine months between January and September this year compared to the same period last year.

The number of both road accidents and deaths increased by about 20 percent. There were 2 328 accidents last year compared to 2 835 this year. A total of 62 people died in traffic accidents in Bulawayo during the period under review last year and the figure rose to 75 this year.

In a strongly worded statement, the police spokesperson for the province, Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo, said police were also arresting under-age commuter omnibus drivers and their employers. He also read the riot act on police officers who demand or accept bribes to ignore crimes. "We are eliminating all unnecessary causes of road accidents. We will not hesitate to impound public transport vehicles that are driven by people under the age of 25.

"We have stopped accepting fines for some offences, especially driving without a licence or going through a red robot. Offenders go straight to court where they can get stiffer sentences," said Insp Moyo. He said no sentence could be considered too harsh when it was meant to curb the loss of life. "We also appeal to the powers-that-be to impose stiffer sentences on commuter omnibus operators who engage under-age drivers, to complement the sterling efforts of the police in the matter," said Insp Moyo.

Last week, three under-age drivers, Emanuel Bukuta (20), Privilege Ncube (20), Shepherd Sibanda (23), were found driving commuter omnibuses loaded with passengers, along 6th Avenue. They were arrested and police impounded their vehicles. The trio appeared before Mrs Lindiwe Mbizwo at Western Commonage Courts, who handed each of them a nine-month sentence.

They will, however, each serve six months as three were suspended on condition that they are not found driving without a licence, in the next five years. Insp Moyo warned motorists to be extra cautious on the road, as the onset of the rainy season would make roads more slippery. "Every driver has a duty to safeguard the lives of all other road users. We urge them to be extra careful and keep within prescribed speed limits, while observing all the rules of the road. They should not use cellphones while driving and should make sure their vehicles are in perfect working order. It is very sad to continue losing lives, especially in circumstances that could have been avoided," he said.

Insp Moyo warned corrupt officers saying they would not get favours or preferential treatment if they got caught. "We have put measures in place to weed out bad apples in the force. Any officer who gets caught soliciting for or accepting a bribe will face the full wrath of the law. We urge members of the public not to tempt officers by offering them bribes as they will also be guilty of a serious offence," said Insp Moyo.

Last month, Insp Moyo said police officers who accepted bribes and people who paid bribes faced up to 20 years in prison for the offence.