News / Regional
Unroadworthy vehicles major cause of road accidents
29 Dec 2012 at 07:11hrs | Views
UNROADWORTHY vehicles are the major contributors to the carnage on the roads and as such police will not hesitate to impound such vehicles to restore sanity on the roads, Officer Commanding Police in Matabeleland North Province, Senior Assistant Commissioner Norman Sibanda has said.
Addressing hoteliers, tour and adventure operators, commuter omnibus operators and taxi operators in Victoria Falls during the awareness campaign on corruption on Thursday, Snr Asst Comm Sibanda said many lives have been lost on the roads because of unroadworthy vehicles.
He said to date about 18 people had died in accidents recorded in Matabeleland North Province during the festive season, a number he said was too much and needed to be reduced.
"We will impound unroadworthy vehicles because if they continue moving on the roads, they will cause more carnage. Operators should also consider the lives of the passengers they are carrying instead of being just money oriented. That is why we need your assistance as members of the community. We are saying do not drive unroadworthy vehicles because you know that you have $10 and you can bribe your way out. We need a shared responsibility, society and the police should work together for the common cause of wiping out this scourge," said Snr Asst Comm Sibanda.
Snr Asst Comm Sibanda also said the police would not stop at nothing but fire any police officer found guilty of corrupt activities.
"At the same time any police officer found receiving a bribe from any member of the community would be fired on the spot. We are tired of this scourge."
He said the cancer called corruption was depriving society of a good, fair and orderly administration of its laws.
Snr Asst Comm Sibanda, "Proverbs 29 verse 3 states that when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked bears rule, the people mourn. People will rejoice when those in authority morally practice good tenets of professionalism. The Police Act provides that a police officer commits corruption if he or she solicits or accept any bribe or present, reward or consideration whatsoever in connection with his or her position or duties as a member without the authority of the Commissioner General of Police."
He said in trying to fight corruption, it was important to consider both the supply and demand sides of it.
"Much has been said about the demand side and seldom on the role of the private sector as a supplier of corruption who pay the bribe. The demand side or taker is predominantly government officials (police). The private sector is more cash liquid, performance driven, profit motivated and always short of time. This desperation, risk inclination and willingness to pay whatever it takes render the private sector most gullible to demanders of bribes," said Snr Asst Comm Sibanda.
He said an anti corruption police team had already been deployed in the province in a bid to curb the scourge.
Addressing hoteliers, tour and adventure operators, commuter omnibus operators and taxi operators in Victoria Falls during the awareness campaign on corruption on Thursday, Snr Asst Comm Sibanda said many lives have been lost on the roads because of unroadworthy vehicles.
He said to date about 18 people had died in accidents recorded in Matabeleland North Province during the festive season, a number he said was too much and needed to be reduced.
"We will impound unroadworthy vehicles because if they continue moving on the roads, they will cause more carnage. Operators should also consider the lives of the passengers they are carrying instead of being just money oriented. That is why we need your assistance as members of the community. We are saying do not drive unroadworthy vehicles because you know that you have $10 and you can bribe your way out. We need a shared responsibility, society and the police should work together for the common cause of wiping out this scourge," said Snr Asst Comm Sibanda.
Snr Asst Comm Sibanda also said the police would not stop at nothing but fire any police officer found guilty of corrupt activities.
"At the same time any police officer found receiving a bribe from any member of the community would be fired on the spot. We are tired of this scourge."
He said the cancer called corruption was depriving society of a good, fair and orderly administration of its laws.
Snr Asst Comm Sibanda, "Proverbs 29 verse 3 states that when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked bears rule, the people mourn. People will rejoice when those in authority morally practice good tenets of professionalism. The Police Act provides that a police officer commits corruption if he or she solicits or accept any bribe or present, reward or consideration whatsoever in connection with his or her position or duties as a member without the authority of the Commissioner General of Police."
He said in trying to fight corruption, it was important to consider both the supply and demand sides of it.
"Much has been said about the demand side and seldom on the role of the private sector as a supplier of corruption who pay the bribe. The demand side or taker is predominantly government officials (police). The private sector is more cash liquid, performance driven, profit motivated and always short of time. This desperation, risk inclination and willingness to pay whatever it takes render the private sector most gullible to demanders of bribes," said Snr Asst Comm Sibanda.
He said an anti corruption police team had already been deployed in the province in a bid to curb the scourge.
Source - RTC
