News / National
Police warn of Easter road blitz
17 Apr 2014 at 12:38hrs | Views
Senior police officers yesterday embarked on an operation to weed out corrupt activities on the roads, warning drivers to stay focused and not be distracted while travelling this Easter period.
"Operation Traffic Checks'' got underway yesterday, and will result in a heavy police presence on the roads.
The operation saw senior police force members, led by the chief police spokesperson senior assistant commissioner Charity Charamba, patrolling the streets of Harare, engaging traffic operators on how best they could deal with corruption.
Senior officers who participated in the operation were senior assistant commissioners Justice Chengeta and Angeline Guvamombe, assistant commissioner Isaac Tayengwa and chief superintendent Fiana Thlomani, among others.
Charamba said roads would be busy over the holiday period and police would ensure that the holidays were accident-free.
Addressing the Press corp after the tour, Charamba lamented that the lead-in to the holidays had already started on a sad note after four people perished in an accident along the Harare-Bindura highway on Tuesday.
Police are concerned that most accidents are being caused by reckless drivers of both public and private vehicles.
Last year, police recorded a total of 424 accidents countrywide during the Easter holidays out of which 36 were fatal, killing 50 people, while 273 were injured.
Charamba warned that police would not be folding their arms as the madness on the country's roads continues unabated. She said the police force would be deployed 24 hours during the holiday.
"The ZRP would be working hand in glove with other stakeholders like the Traffic Safety Council Of Zimbabwe and the Vehicle Inspection Department to make sure the forthcoming Easter and Independence holidays are accident free," Charamba said.
She warned motorists that they would not hesitate to impound all unroadworthy vehicles, and also warned commuter operators to employ drivers who are of the stipulated age and have requisite qualifications.
She said the operation was not a witch hunt targeted at public service motor vehicles but all road users.
"The ZRP would, therefore, like to warn all motorists to observe the road rules and regulations and ensure that their motor vehicles are roadworthy for carrying passengers and goods," Charamba said.
The operation is also aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the city.
The operation sought to investigate cases of motorists, particularly taxi operators and public transporters, who use undesignated parking areas as well as reducing road carnage during the Easter holiday.
Charamba said the operation was prompted by a flurry of corruption complaints arising from congested termini in the Central Business District (CBD).
She said the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) had set up anti-corruption teams and police commanders to supervise traffic officers deployed at roadblocks in a bid to stamp out corruption.
Charamba said the operation would be conducted around the country during the forthcoming Easter holiday.
"At our level, we mainly deal with policy issues but this came about after we received numerous complaints about corruption by members of the force as well as the public," Charamba told the Daily News on the sidelines of the tour.
"We, therefore, decided to come down as senior officers to get the correct information first hand so that we can use it to come out with proper policies."
"Operation Traffic Checks'' got underway yesterday, and will result in a heavy police presence on the roads.
The operation saw senior police force members, led by the chief police spokesperson senior assistant commissioner Charity Charamba, patrolling the streets of Harare, engaging traffic operators on how best they could deal with corruption.
Senior officers who participated in the operation were senior assistant commissioners Justice Chengeta and Angeline Guvamombe, assistant commissioner Isaac Tayengwa and chief superintendent Fiana Thlomani, among others.
Charamba said roads would be busy over the holiday period and police would ensure that the holidays were accident-free.
Addressing the Press corp after the tour, Charamba lamented that the lead-in to the holidays had already started on a sad note after four people perished in an accident along the Harare-Bindura highway on Tuesday.
Police are concerned that most accidents are being caused by reckless drivers of both public and private vehicles.
Last year, police recorded a total of 424 accidents countrywide during the Easter holidays out of which 36 were fatal, killing 50 people, while 273 were injured.
Charamba warned that police would not be folding their arms as the madness on the country's roads continues unabated. She said the police force would be deployed 24 hours during the holiday.
"The ZRP would be working hand in glove with other stakeholders like the Traffic Safety Council Of Zimbabwe and the Vehicle Inspection Department to make sure the forthcoming Easter and Independence holidays are accident free," Charamba said.
She warned motorists that they would not hesitate to impound all unroadworthy vehicles, and also warned commuter operators to employ drivers who are of the stipulated age and have requisite qualifications.
She said the operation was not a witch hunt targeted at public service motor vehicles but all road users.
"The ZRP would, therefore, like to warn all motorists to observe the road rules and regulations and ensure that their motor vehicles are roadworthy for carrying passengers and goods," Charamba said.
The operation is also aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the city.
The operation sought to investigate cases of motorists, particularly taxi operators and public transporters, who use undesignated parking areas as well as reducing road carnage during the Easter holiday.
Charamba said the operation was prompted by a flurry of corruption complaints arising from congested termini in the Central Business District (CBD).
She said the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) had set up anti-corruption teams and police commanders to supervise traffic officers deployed at roadblocks in a bid to stamp out corruption.
Charamba said the operation would be conducted around the country during the forthcoming Easter holiday.
"At our level, we mainly deal with policy issues but this came about after we received numerous complaints about corruption by members of the force as well as the public," Charamba told the Daily News on the sidelines of the tour.
"We, therefore, decided to come down as senior officers to get the correct information first hand so that we can use it to come out with proper policies."
Source - dailynews
