via Police crackdown on motorists in Harare | SW Radio Africa 15 July 2014 by Tichaona Sibanda
Police have launched another massive crackdown on major roads leading in and out of Harare, checking on unlicensed drivers and uninsured vehicles.
Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa said they are also targeting misbehaving motorists like kombi drivers, who have a habit of trying to flee from the police when ordered to stop. Motorists who have not paid tariffs are having their vehicles impounded.
Officials from the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA), the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) are helping police with the spot checks. Police are pulling over all uninsured vehicles, while ZINARA are checking if motorists have paid their road permit disks.
‘They are also checking if drivers are licenced. If you tell them you forgot your licence, they are vetting each and every driver to see if they have got driving licences. This crackdown is more intense than previous ones,’ Muchemwa said.
As with previous such programs, there has been an outcry from motorists who accuse the authorities of doing nothing more than raising funds for the broke government.
‘While they they’re impounding vehicles and arresting motorist for various offences, the main targets are those that have failed to display or pay ZINARA disc fees. To many this looks like government using its departments to raise cash for the treasury,’ Muchemwa added.
COMMENTS
There is nothing wrong in making sure vehicles are roadworthy & drivers are licensed to ensure public saty. However, I can bet the main objective of this operation is revenue generation to replenish the state coffers that have being wiped clean by our “beloved” politicians!
Signs of desperation. The whole things is slowly collapsing around them
You are correct.
Headline should read “Police are on crack”
Although we see desperation to raise funds, I see these checks as legitimate as not paying your disc licence or driving without a licence is a crime. Let us not blame the police for doing their jobs. Lets not give them reason by forgetting our licences. We know there are problems with our police, but we are the same people who blame the police when things go wrong. Capisce.
on the other hand if the recent toll gate increase is anything to go by then it seems the crack down views car owners as a cash cow or as a rich social segment. If this is the case we are in trouble because these officers will be on the road until investors decide to come to Zimbabwe. Haaa ndazozvifunga later (typical of Zimbabwean DNA). kikikikkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk Hallaaaalah
On Wednesday the 16/7/2014 we went through nine police roadblocks/stops between Harare and Chinhoyi. Despite the massive traffic police presence, the standard of driving remains atrocious, with speeding buses, combi’s etc. breaking every rule of the road that exists.
So this is not effective traffic policing, it is simply very effective and corrupt revenue generation.